Columbia
Fairfield
Columbia Preps for Fairfield Friday, Home Opener Sunday
9/18/2019 4:04:00 PM | Field Hockey
The Lions wrap up a five-game road swing against the Stags before hosting UMass-Lowell Sunday.
NEW YORK - Fresh off a pair of wins over top-25 teams, Columbia field hockey is back in action for two contests this weekend. On Friday, September 20, the Lions will head to Fairfield for a 4 p.m. contest against the Stags before making their home debut Sunday, September 22 against UMass-Lowell at 12 p.m.
Fairfield will broadcast Friday's matchup on Facebook Live. Sunday's showdown with the Riverhawks can be seen on ESPN+. Live stats for both games can be viewed by clicking here.
NEWS/NOTES
COLUMBIA'S STATUS
• The Lions look to continue their winning ways this weekend with a pair of games, taking on Fairfield Friday and UMass Lowell Sunday in their home opener.
• Columbia knocked off a pair of top-25 teams for the first time in program history after topping No. 22 Boston University, 4-3, in OT Saturday and earning a 3-2 victory over No. 24 Maine Sunday.
• After playing their first four contests away from home, the Lions will make their debut at the Columbia Field Hockey Stadium Sunday. Columbia is 15-8 all-time in home openers and 2-2 under Caroline Nelson-Nichols.
• Kelsey Farkas was named Ivy League Co-Offensive Player of the Week and NFHCA National Offensive Player of the Week after registering three goals and two assists. It was the first time a Lion earned the conference award since 2017 and the first time for the national honor.
• Goalkeeper Alexa Conomikes was named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week with 10 stops over the weekend, including six vs. BU to preserve the victory.
FAIRFIELD'S STATUS
• The Stags have gotten off to a hot start, winning five of their first six, including a 3-2 overtime win against No. 13 Boston College. Fairfield's only loss came to UMass-Lowell to start the season.
• Fairfield had some awards of their own as keeper Zoe Rosen won Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week, and Page Lowry won Rookie of the Week.
UMASS-LOWELL'S STATUS
• The River Hawks have had a tough stretch to start the season, facing three top-20 teams in five games, losing all of them. They were able to pick up a win their in last game vs Ball State 2-1.
•UML's Sophie Knook won America East's Rookie of the Week award for her two goal effort against Ball State. She is tied for team lead in goals with two.
INSIDE THE SERIES - FAIRFIELD
Friday will be the 17th time Columbia and Fairfield have squared off. The Lions own the edge over the Stags with a 12-4 record. Columbia has won their last five matches in the series and five of the last six have been decided by one goal. Last season, Columbia earned a 5-4 victory in a shootout over Fairfield in New York.
INSIDE THE SERIES - UMASS LOWELL
The Lions and the River Hawks have faced each other twice before, with each team winning one game. The last time these two teams faced was last year, where UMass Lowell came away with a 4-3 victory in double overtime.
TAKING ON THE BEST
Three of Columbia's first four opponents were ranked in the preseason NFHCA Top-25 Poll and the Lions took two of those three contests, falling only to No. 8 Iowa. That contest was tied, 1-1, heading into the fourth quarter before the Hawkeyes netted a pair in the final period. Looking ahead, Columbia will have three more cracks at teams currently in the top-25 when they face UAlbany (Oct. 6), Princeton (Oct. 12) and Harvard (Nov. 18).
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Senior Jennifer Trieschman, the Lions' leading scorer in 2018 with nine goals, had another goal this past weekend against Boston, to bring her career total to 19, which is tied for eighth all-time in program history. Her four goals on the year are tied for the Ivy League lead.
THE IVY LEAGUE ON ESPN+
All home Columbia games and most Ivy League road contests will air on ESPN+ as part of The Ivy League's new partnership with ESPN. ESPN+ is a new, subscription-based service that offers monthly ($4.99) and yearly ($49.99) plans. Click here to subscribe to ESPN+ and start your free trial! Click here for frequently asked questions about the Ivy League on ESPN.
For the latest on Columbia field hockey, follow @columbiafhockey on Twitter, @columbiafh on Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
