NEW YORK — First-half goals from junior forward Jordyn Geller and senior forward Emily Koe plus a strong effort on the defensive end propelled the Columbia women's soccer team to 2-0 shutout victory over NJIT at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium on Friday night. It was the Lions' second clean sheet of the 2019 campaign.
 
The Lions climb to 4-2-1 overall with the win, while NJIT falls to 3-3-2, ending a four-game unbeaten streak for the Highlanders.
 
"It feels great sitting on this side of it as a coach watching your team respond that way," said Columbia head coach Tracey Bartholomew. "We had a good week of training and we knew we were coming in to get a chance to play two home games this weekend and that's always exciting for the players."
 
In the 18th minute, Koe knocked in her first goal of the season to put the Lions up early. Sophomore Jessica Schildkraut played the ball off to senior Maddie Temares at the far corner of the box, who lofted it ahead to Koe. Koe flicked the ball behind her with her right foot around an NJIT defender and past the keeper.
 
Just 13 minutes later, Geller tacked on an insurance goal with her first of the season. Junior midfielder Cayla Davis sent a long ball ahead to Geller who gathered the ball at the top of the 18. Geller sprinted past two defenders, sending a strong shot over the head of NJIT's goalkeeper.
 
"One of the things we talked about this week is the attacking accountability we need in the game," added Bartholomew. "You as forwards need to feel you can attack. I was super proud their efforts, even though I thought their goalkeeper made some great saves, we know we can finish more than that. But for us to see players dribbling by the backline and things like that, that was excited because that's what we worked on."
 
Having played all seven of the Lions' games in goal, first-year goalkeeper Liz Matei registered her second career shutout with three saves on the evening.
 
"Every game [Liz] is learning how to be more decisive, communicate, be involved and command the backline," Bartholomew commented on Matei. "She had a great corner kick where she just held that ball. She's capable of very high-level ability. It's just building confidence, and it's great to see her get a shutout. And I will say, Juliet [Allen] has been working so hard and they are so supportive of each other. That dynamic of making eachother better at practice is really helpful."
 
Columbia controlled the ball for 57 percent of the game, while keeping the ball in its own attacking half for 62 percent of that time.
 
Limiting the Highlanders to just three shots on goal the entire match, Columbia outshot NJIT, 21-6 overall, with 11 of the Lions' shots on frame.
 
Playing another home game on Sunday, Columbia welcomes in Drexel for a 2 p.m. ET start. The match, which serves as the Lions' final tune-up before the start of Ivy League play, will be shown live on ESPN+.
 
For the latest on the Columbia women's soccer program, follow @ColumbiaWSoccer on Twitter and Instagram, on Facebook at Facebook.com/ColumbiaWSoccer and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.