Columbia
AMERICAN
Offensive Outburst Leads Women's Soccer Past American, 5-0
9/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
NEW YORK -- An electric offensive performance that resulted in a season-best five goals being scored led the Columbia University women's soccer team to a convincing 5-0 victory over American University on Friday night at Columbia Soccer Stadium. The five goals in the contest matched the total number of goals that the Lions had scored all season.
Ashlin Yahr registered two goals and helped on another for Columbia, who bumps its record above .500 to 3-2-1 on the year. The Eagles fall to 3-4-1.
Yahr would open the scoring in the 34th minute off a free-kick opportunity that was set up by the first-year forward. An American defender impeded Yahr's path on a semi-breakaway opportunity and drew a foul call from the referee. Junior midfielder Ashley Mistele bent her free kick from 25 yards out far post to Yahr, who headed the ball into the lower-left corner of the goal to put Columbia on top, 1-0.
The score would remain the same until the second half, when Yahr teamed up with forward Sophie Reiser for the Lions' second tally. Yahr again used her head to do damage, as her flick pass found Reiser down the left side. The junior co-captain one-touched the ball past an Eagle defender and into clear space. She would face resistance as she entered the box, but the Seattle, Wash., native shed a would-be defender and went far post past the goalie for her second goal of the year.
A rocket shot by first-year Marissa Shultz from the top of the box in the 58th minute helped create the third goal of the match. American's Kelsey Wiggins saved the initial shot, but the rebound came directly to Yahr who cashed in on her chance and put Columbia up 3-0.
But the impressive offensive display would not stop there, as less than four minutes later another first-year player, Nora Dooley, fired a shot over the head of Wiggins and into the back of the net to extend the Lions' lead.
The fifth, final and arguably the prettiest goal of the match came in the 78th minute. Sophomore reserve Piersten Gaines began the play with a beautiful ball down the right side to Schultz. Schultz took the pass and found sophomore Keri Nobil wide open and in front of net. Nobil delivered with her first goal of the year to close out the decisive win.
First-year goalkeeper Lillian Klein stopped eight American shots to record her second victory of the season and second shutout. Wiggins closed with four saves for the Eagles.
The Columbia women's soccer team is back in action on Sunday, Sept. 21, as it travels to Stony Brook for a road match beginning at 1 p.m.
