GAME NOTES (.pdf)
NEW YORK - Ivy League play commences this weekend with the Columbia field hockey team riding high after two exciting wins last weekend. The Lions' (3-1) take on Brown on Saturday and will remain in Rhode Island to take on Providence on Sunday.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
COLUMBIA (3-1, 0-0) AT BROWN (3-0, 0-0)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 • 12 P.M.
COLUMBIA AT PROVIDENCE (3-3)
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 • 1 P.M.
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LIVE STATS
COLUMBIA'S STATUS
The Lions pulled out a 5-2 victory over Villanova on Sep. 13, guiding by a two goal, one assist performance by Zoe Blake.
The next day against Fairfield, the Lions came away with a thrilling 2-1 overtime win. Kimberly Pianucci was stellar between the pipes, making eight saves, and Katie Ruesterholz provided a nifty game-winner on a deflection in overtime.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
Brown has used stellar defense to start the season 3-0 heading into Ivy League play. The Bears are holding opponents to 0.67 goals per game and 9.3 shots. Meghan O'Donnell has shouldered the bulk of the offensive output scoring four of the team's nine goals. No other player has more than one.
SCOUTING THE FRIARS
Providence snapped a three-game slide with a 5-1 win over Central Michigan last Sunday in Ann Arbor. The Friars have scored five goals in two of their wins this season and have the second highest scoring average in the BIG EAST this season (2.55).
Providence will host New Hampshire this Friday, Sep. 19 before hosting the Lions.
A LOOK BACK...
Katie Ruesterholz and Liz Malone each scored twice in Columbia's 4-1 win over the Bears last season at the Baker Athletics Complex.
The Lions outshot Brown, 24-7. The Lions jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first half and never looked back.
ZOE'S PLACE
Midfielder Zoe Blake had arguably her finest weekend in blue and white against Villanova and Fairfield. The tri-captain potted two goals and an assist in the win over the Wildcats and assisted on the overtime game-winner the next day against the Stags. Additionally, Blake registered 12 shots with nine on target to lead the squad.
PIANUCCI STEPS UP
Junior goalkeeper Kimberly Pianucci stood on her proverbial head last weekend in a pair of wins for the Lions. Against Villanova, she made seven saves and was outstanding, making eight sprawling saves, against Fairfield in another Columbia triumph. Pianucci has made the Ivy League Weekly Honor Roll each of the first two weeks of the 2014 season.
SHARING IS CARING
Junior Christina Freibott's three assists against Villanova on Sep. 13 tied the program's single-game record which she previously tied last year in Columbia's win over Penn. Her five asissts rank fifth in the nation and she is on pace to shatter the Lions' single-season mark of 11 set by Christine Buszczak '09 in 2008.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Not only is Freibott threatening the single-season assist mark, she is making a move on the career list as well. With 16 assists in two-plus seasons she sits tied for fourth, trailing Dana Zullo's '03 record of 21. Katie Ruesterholz is already seventh on the all-time goal charts with 13 tallies and is six away from cracking the top-five.
LIONS IN SEASON OPENERS
Columbia improved to 10-9 in season openers after winning its 2014 debut, 3-1, against LaSalle. In home debuts, the Lions are now 13-6, and have come away victorious in five-straight in their first contest at the Baker Athletics Complex.
