NEW YORK - It was a storybook ending to the 2009 Columbia field hockey season, and the magic number was one. One win would mean that the Lions would finish above .500 for the third consecutive year, and one win would mean the six seniors honored before the game would become the winningest class in program history. Senior co-captain Christine Buszczak also needed one assist to tie the program record of 21 career assists.
It was all too perfect that Columbia was awarded a corner 4:40 into the overtime period, and Buszczak got set on the end line to insert the ball. She sent a crisp pass to Hannah Smith who slid the ball to a waiting Julia Garrison. The junior vice captain buried the shot to the far right corner to give the Lions a 2-1 sudden victory win over Harvard.
Columbia struck first 3:02 into the game on a goal by sophomore Maggie O'Connor. The Lions were awarded a corner, and the initial shot by Smith was blocked. Jane Gartland picked up a loose ball and found O'Connor who beat Cynthia Tassopoulos and gave Columbia a 1-0 lead.
Harvard had a chance to knot the score at 1-1 at the 9:21 mark, but junior Erin Conway made a huge save to preserve the one goal lead.
The Crimson tied the game 2:34 into the second half on a goal by Georgia McGillivray off a corner.
Columbia had its chances, including three corners back-to-back at 48:31, 48:58, and 50:10. Gabby Kozlowski had two quick shots, but Tassioiulos turned aside both. With time ticking down in the second period, Garrison had another chance with 1:12 remaining, but once again Harvard's goalkeeper came up with a huge save. Neither team was able to score, forcing the game to overtime.
The teams battled back and forth for the first few minutes of the extra period, but the Lions were awarded a key corner before Smith connected with Garrison at the top of the circle. The junior vice captain buried the shot to the far right corner to give the Lions a sudden victory win.
Columbia outshot the Crimson 14-7 and held a 10-6 advantage in penalty corners. Conway finished with two saves to earn the victory, while Garrison paced the offense with five shots on goal.
The Lions finish the season 9-8 overall and 3-4 in the Ivy League. This marked the final game for the team's six seniors: Hannah Biddle, Kaitlyn Busler, Christine Buszczak, Catherine Campbell, Jane Gartland, and Julie Hatchett.
