NEW YORK — Having won five of its last six games, the Columbia women's soccer team will officially open Ivy League action on Saturday, traveling to face Cornell at noon ET at Berman Field. The game was moved up one hour from its originally scheduled time due to storms in the forecast.
 
The match will be streamed live on ESPN+, while live results for the contest can be found here.
 
Entering conference play, the Lions sit at 5-2-1 overall, marking the first time since 2010 in which Columbia has registered at least five wins before the start of conference action and the first time under sixth-year head coach Tracey Bartholomew.
 
Nine different Lions have scored goals through the first eight games, while eight different players have been credited with assists. Junior midfielder Cayla Davis leads the Lions in team scoring with eight points behind a team-best three goals plus two assists, while sophomore midfielder Jessica Schildkraut and senior midfielder Maddie Temares lead the team with four assists apiece.
 
In goal, first-year Liz Matei has started all eight contests for the Lions with a 5-2-1 record, 1.00 goals against average and .795 save percentage. Her 31 total saves ranks second among Ivy League keepers.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Lions are coming off an explosive 4-0 shutout victory over Drexel last weekend, which were the most goals scored by Columbia yet this season. The result was also Columbia's second-straight clean sheet after blanking NJIT, 2-0, two days prior.
 
Against the Dragons, Schildkraut led the way with four points on one goal and two assists while Davis knocked in her team-leading third goal of the season. Junior forward Jordyn Geller also scored her second goal in as many games in the outing, while first-year forward Ally Clark registered her first career goal.  
 
SCOUTING CORNELL
The Big Red appears to be much improved from a season ago with a 4-2-1 record at this point in the season. Cornell went 1-13-1 in 2018.
 
After starting the season on a four-match win streak, Cornell has gone winless over its last three game, including an 0-2 loss at St. John's in its most recent outing last Saturday.
 
Leading Cornell in scoring are first-year forward Ashley Durik and sophomore midfielder Jadyn Matthews, each with two goals on the season. The Big Red have split time in goal between three keepers, but senior Chrissy Mayer leads the pack with 15 saves and 290 minutes played.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Despite the Big Red holding a 19-14 advantage in the overall series, Columbia has been on the winning end in 12 of the last 14 contests, including each of the last three seasons. Last season, the Lions earned a 2-1 double overtime victory at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium in 2018. Then-junior Temares net the game-winner in the 101st minute.
 
ON DECK
Columbia returns home next Saturday, Oct. 5, for the Ivy home opener against Brown at 5 p.m. ET. The match will follow the men's matchup at 1 p.m., with an alumni event taking place between for both programs.
 
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.