NEW YORK -- Sparked by a pair of goals from Gabby Kozlowski and fine goalie play from fellow first-year Christie O'Hara, Columbia defeated Lehigh 3-1 on Wednesday at the Columbia Field Hockey Venue.

Columbia began the game as the aggressor, firing three shots at Lehigh goalkeeper Jessica Martin before Kozlowski broke through at the 12:37 mark.

After scoring her first collegiate goal in the Lions' last game at Hofstra, Kozlowski controlled the ball into the Lehigh end and ripped a hard, high shot over Martin's head to give Columbia a 1-0 lead.

The score remained at 1-0 for the rest of the half thanks in large part to the Columbia defense, which turned away five Lehigh corner opportunities in the final 20 minutes of the half.  O'Hara made a pair of saves during the first half.

The Lions continued to apply pressure in the Lehigh zone during the start of the second half, culminating in a penalty stroke chance for Desi Scherf five minutes into the half. 

Scherf stepped up to take the stroke and calmly ripped a low shot to the right corner for her first goal of the season.

Eleven minutes later, Kozlowski struck again on a flurry in front of the net, putting a wraparound shot past Martin, after an assist by Christine Buszczak.

The Lions controlled play for the majority of the half, but Lehigh got on the board with 7:06 remaining in the game when Taryn Hartzell put in a rebound shot past Lion keeper Erin Conway, who entered the game a minute earlier.  Conway stopped Hartzell's first shot but the Mountain Hawks were able to capitalize on the rebound to make it 3-1.

With the win, Columbia evens its record at 6-6.  The Lions will return to Ivy League play this Saturday, October 24 at Dartmouth at noon.