Women's Soccer Hosts Hofstra & Seton Hall To Kickoff 2017
8/24/2017 12:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
| DATE | Friday, August 25 |
| TIME | 6:00 p.m. |
| VENUE | Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium |
| LOCATION | New York, N.Y. |
| DIRECTIONS | Directions to R.B.C. Stadium |
| VIDEO | IVY LEAGUE NETWORK |
| MEDIA | LIVE STATS |
| TWITTER HANDLE | @ColumbiaWsoccer @GoColumbiaLions |
| DATE | Sunday, August 27 |
| TIME | 1:00 p.m. |
| VENUE | Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium |
| LOCATION | New York, N.Y. |
| DIRECTIONS | Directions to R.B.C. Stadium |
| VIDEO | IVY LEAGUE NETWORK |
| MEDIA | LIVE STATS |
| TWITTER HANDLE | @ColumbiaWsoccer @GoColumbiaLions |
NEW YORK - The 2017 campaign begins at home for the Columbia women's soccer team as they host a pair of tri-state area foes this weekend at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium. The Lions will open the season on Friday, Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. against Hofstra, followed by Seton Hall on Sunday, Aug. 27 at 1 p.m.
Game admission is free at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium. Fans can also catch the action streaming live on the Ivy League Network and through the media links above.
ABOUT THE LIONS: Columbia returns 10 of 11 starters, including six All-Ivy League players, from a 2016 squad (7-6-4, 4-2-1 Ivy) that was a game away from an Ivy League title. While the contributions from the Lions graduating seniors will be missed, including All-Ivy League goalkeeper Allison Spencer, forwards Madeline Linde and Grace Taylor, the Lions return 78% of its team offense and 88% of its team defense.
Under the helm of head coach Tracey Bartholomew, in her fourth season, the Lions defense looks to be stronger than ever. Highlighting the return of an experienced core from 2016, that led the Ivy League with 10 shutouts, are three All-Ivy League defenders in seniors Natalie Ambrose, Kerry Manion and sophomore Amalya Johnson. In addition, the Lions offense boasts back-to-back team leading scorer Emma Anderson (5g, 3a), along with fellow All-Ivy League performers Natalie Neshat (4g, 2a) and Amaris Hemmings (2 goals).
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| COLUMBIA | Team Matchup | HOFSTRA |
| 0-0 | Record | 0-2 |
| Ivy League | Conference | CAA |
| 1.12* |
Goals Per Game | 0.00 |
| .090* | Shot % | .000 |
| 18* | Assists | 0 |
|
Emma Anderson (5g, 3a)* |
Leading Scorer(s) | |
|
Sophie Whitehouse |
Goalkeeper | Cameron Perrott (8 sv.)(.667 sv %) |
*2016
INSIDE THE SERIES: On Friday, Columbia will take on Hofstra for the third-consecutive season during opening weekend. Hosting the Pride for the first time since 2011, the Lions will be looking for its first win over is local foe since 2007. Hofstra has come out on top in the last two meetings at Hofstra Soccer Stadium and lead the all-time series 7-4-1.
A LOOK AT HOFSTRA: The Pride is off to a rocky start in 2017, dropping two-straight matches at Pittsburgh (0-1) and Penn State (0-3). In 2016, Hofstra posted its 15th consecutive winning season finishing 10-7-1, including a 7-2 mark at Hofstra Soccer Stadium. They've returned three of its top four goal scorers, including senior All-Colonial Athletic Association Third-Team selection Kristin Desmond and CAA All-Rookie Team selection senior Kelly Gerdes on the backline.
| COLUMBIA | Team Matchup | SETON HALL |
| 0-0 | Record | 0-0 |
| Ivy League | Conference | Big East |
| 1.12* |
Goals Per Game | 0.71* |
| .090* | Shot % | .101* |
| 18* | Assists | 8* |
|
Emma Anderson (5g, 3a)* |
Leading Scorer(s) |
Sara Cortes (2g, 1a)* |
|
Sophie Whitehouse |
Goalkeeper | Anna Maclean (85 sv.)(.759 sv %)* |
*2016
INSIDE THE SERIES: With the previous two meetings (2014, 2016) resulting in a draw, the tough fought Columbia and Seton Hall battle will continue on Sunday afternoon. Hosting the Pirates for the first time since 2008, the Lions will also look grab a win over Seton Hall for the first time since 2003. Seton Hall slightly leads the all-time series 2-1-2.
A LOOK AT SETON HALL: The Pirates return nine starters, 16 letter winners, including Eva Gonzalez who missed last season to be with the U20 Mexican Women's National Team. Seton Hall returns 75% of their scoring from last season and a familiar face will be between the pipes in junior Anna MacLean who lead the BIG EAST in saves per game (5.0).
UP NEXT: The Lions will head to the west coast over Labor Day weekend to face Pepperdine on Friday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. EST and Loyola Marymount on Sunday, Sept. 3 at 4 p.m. EST.
