NEW YORK – An offensive outburst and a shutout on the defensive end of the pitch helped the Columbia women's soccer team top Fordham, 3-0, on a muggy day in the home opener at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.
 
"To be able to come home and be on the field we were training on I knew the girls would have a lot of energy and once they settled down it was nice to see some of the combinations of things happening and our ability to get to goal," said Columbia head coach Tracey Bartholomew. "Having a number of kids that make an impact is great as a coach."
 
Rookies Talia Tyler and Mallaika Tomar found the net for the first time in their career, while Emily Koe got the scoring started in the first half.
 
In the 25th minute of action, Emma Anderson found the ball at the top of the box from Koe, who then streaked toward the net. On the give-and-go, Anderson found Koe, who was able to finish and put Columbia on the board with her first score of the season.
 
With time winding down in the first half, the Lions ran down for a last-second corner kick. With less than 15 seconds on the clock, the ball found Amaris Hemmings in the box. After a scramble for the ball, Hemmings connected with Tyler, who put a shot past Fordham's Kelly LaMorte with one second remaining in the half.
 
With a 2-0 lead in the second, Columbia was able to add on in the 77th minute behind Tomar. Sophomore Gracie Wall won a ball in the midfield, then found Tyler, who one-touched a lead pass to Tomar. A high chip shot went over LaMorte's head for the third score of the game, putting the Rams away in the process.
 
After today's victory, the Lions improve to 1-0-1 on the season, with a pair of matches in Colorado up next over Labor Day Weekend.
 
POST MATCH NOTES
- A total of 21 players saw time today for Columbia, as temperatures reached the mid-80s at kickoff.
 
- Talia Tyler and Mallaika Tomar scored their first goals of the season, with Tyler also recorded an assist on the Tomar goal.
 
- Gracie Wall was credited with her first career assist on the Tomar goal.
 
- Emma Anderson has now scored in both matches this season, notching her eighth career assist today on the Koe goal.
 
- Senior Sophie Whitehouse put up her first shutout of the season and 10th of her career, tallying a trio of saves in the process.
 
- Marie Matthews saw her first action of the season in goal, but did not face a shot on net while playing in the final 9:54 of the match.