NEW YORK - Yale used a goal just over four minutes into the overtime period to defeat the Columbia field hockey team 2-1 in Ivy League action on Sunday, November 1. Columbia took a 1-0 lead with less than five minutes to play in regulation, but Yale responded with two unanswered goals to improve to 5-1 in the conference.
The two teams battled back and forth from the opening whistle. Neither team managed to score in the opening 35 minutes of play, as both goalkeepers made a pair of saves to keep the score knotted at 0-0.
The Lions were awarded back-to-back corners at 26:25 and 27:39, but Julia Garrison's shot was blocked before the Bulldogs counterattacked and were awarded three quick corners of their own. During that stretch, junior Erin Conway came up with one of her two huge first half saves.
At the break, Columbia had four shots to Yale's three, while Yale held a 3-2 advantage in corners.
Similar to the opening half, much of the action once again occurred at the end of the second half. Columbia was awarded its third corner in five minutes in the 65th minute. Katie DeSandis sent the ball to the top of the circle where Garrison got a quick shot off. Though her shot was blocked, senior Jane Gartland collected the loose ball and slid it past Yale's Katie Bolling to put the Lions ahead, 1-0.
Their lead was short lived, however, as the Bulldog's responded two minutes later when Mia Rosati tipped a shot by Erin Carter, evening the score at 1-1. That would be all for regulation, forcing the game into sudden-victory overtime.
Ashley McCauley's 13th goal of the season came 4:17 into the extra period, giving Yale (11-5, 5-1 Ivy League) a 2-1 win over the Lions.
Conway had three saves in the loss, while Garrison and Maggie O'Connor paced the Lions with three shots apiece.
The Lions (7-8, 1-4 Ivy League) return to action on Tuesday, November 3 when they host Penn at the Columbia Field Hockey Venue at 5 p.m.
