NEW YORK — The Columbia field hockey team erased a two-goal deficit, but Yale scored in the 54^th minute and sealed a 4-2 win with an empty net goal to earn a victory at the Baker Athletics Complex Friday night. The Lions (6-5, 0-4) have now dropped five in a row after the defeat.
 
Columbia played a spirited second half after falling behind and held a 21-13 edge in shots. The Lions' attack drew all six of their penalty corners in the fourth quarter.
 
The Bulldogs (5-7, 2-2) jumped ahead in the second quarter off a scramble play. Imogen Davies sent a hard centering pass that went off the stick of a Columbia defender that goalkeeper Alexa Conomikes was forced to kick away. However, the rebound remained loose and Kelly Dolan pushed the ball past the goal line to make it 1-0.
 
Yale doubled the advantage with 7:21 remaining in the third after some nice transition play down the right side. Lena Ansari worked it to the baseline of the attacking circle and slid a pass to Iliana Cabral, who was left unmarked at the doorstep for her second of the year.
 
From there, the Lions took over and cut the deficit to 2-1 just 1:12 later when Maya Walker intercepted a pass, drove down the left side and converted on a sliding shot to get Columbia on the board. The score was the first for the Lions in three games.
 
The Lions continued to apply pressure and force a myriad of corners and ripped off the next six shots as play remained in the Yale defensive zone. Columbia finally evened things up off a corner when Walker's initial hit was blockered away by Luanna Summers. The rebound wound up on the stick of Lindsey Yu, who stepped up and blasted one from the left wing for her third of the year.
 
Columbia drew four more corners, but came up empty on its remaining tries. With the momentum still on the Lions' side, Yale caught a big break after a turnover in the middle of the field on a clearing attempt. Lily Ramsey found space for a reverse shot that rattled in the net on the far side to put the Bulldogs back on top.
 
In the final five minutes Columbia, had a pair of chances off corners, however, Summers turned away one shot and another redirection attempt went over the cage. The Lions pulled Conomikes for an extra attacker with 1:51 on the clock and Ellie Barlow put a cap on the win with the empty net tally.
 
Columbia wraps up the weekend slate with a showdown at No. 3 Rutgers Sunday, October 17 at 1 p.m. Fans can catch the action live on the Big Ten Network +.
 
For the latest on Columbia field hockey, follow @CULionsFH on social media and GoColumbiaLions.com for more updates.