NEW YORK, N.Y. - Two first-years scored their first collegiate goals and the Lion defense held on to preserve a one-goal lead late in the match, lifting Columbia to a 2-1 victory over Bucknell in the second and final day of the Columbia Women's Soccer Tournament.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair with both teams having scoring opportunities. In the 26th minute, Lion keeper Allison Vespa (So.-CC, Franklin Lakes, N.J.) made a leaping save on a ball headed for the upper left corner to keep the match scoreless. Minutes later, Columbia also had an opportunity to score after a scramble in front but Bucknell ultimately controlled the ball and booted it downfield.
In the 34th minute, Columbia (1-1) again created a scoring chance when Aubrey Medal (Jr.-CC, Westlake, Calif.) placed a beautiful long ball down the right side. Yasha MacDonald (First-year-CC, Whitman, Mass.) used her exceptional closing speed to beat a Bucknell defender, took a few dribbles and fired a low shot past Bison keeper Samantha Hecht to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.
The Lions were poised to add to its lead three minutes later when Meghan Hurlbut (Jr.-CC, McLean, Va.) sent a ball to Lindsey Knowles (So.-CC, McLean, Va.) on the right side. But Knowles' shot was blocked by Hecht and when Knowles settled the rebound in front, she fired her second shot of the sequence just above the crossbar.
In the second half, Columbia eventually padded its lead due to Knowles, who fired a shot from the left side that was saved and caused a scramble in front of the net. The ball appeared to be trapped underneath a slew of bodies, but it squirted away and Jenny Brandt (First-year-CC, Scarsdale, N.Y.) collected the rebound and fired a point-blank shot into the back of the net for a 2-0 Lion lead.
Bucknell (1-3) responded in the 59th minute when Kerry Fitz-Patrick sent a corner kick into the box and Krista Lee Gentile timed a header into the back of the net to get the Bison within a goal at 2-1.
With Bucknell keeping the pressure on late in regulation, Columbia's defense stepped up as Hurlbut's long balls out of the zone and Cathleen Cimino's poise helped the Lions preserve the lead and capture the victory.
In support of the victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Columbia soccer program raised more than $1,000 over the two days of play this weekend at Columbia Soccer Stadium.
Columbia will return to action on Friday, September 9 against UC Irvine in the UC Irvine Nike Holiday Inn Invitational. Game time on the west coast is 11 p.m.
Columbia Women's Soccer All-Tournament Team
Erin Henderson, St. John's
Jacklyn James, St. John's
Brittany Cavarra, St. John's
Holly Ryder, St. John's
Jana Whiting, Columbia
Yasha MacDonald, Columbia
Cathleen Cimino, Columbia
Jen Hirsch, Quinnipiac
Leisl Lissfelt, Quinnipiac
Sarah Lusto, Quinnipiac
Krista Lee Gentile, Bucknell
Kerry Fitz-Patrick, Bucknell
