NEW YORK - When the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the Ivy League Fall sports season in July of 2020, Lions field hockey Kelsey Farkas had a decision to make. 

Should the two-time All-Conference midfielder and team captain graduate in spring of 2021 and set her focus on the United States National Team and postgraduate career plans, or take a semester off so she could don the Columbia blue and white for one more season?

The choice was easy.

Farkas wanted to play for coach Katie DeSandis '13CC, who had been an assistant from 2017-19 before being named the head of the program in June of 2020. And with a rare affinity for field hockey, Farkas is hungry for some history.

"I love this team so much and I believe in what this program stands for," Farkas said. "And I think that we have a really good chance of doing something great this season."

As the program embarks on its 25th season, Farkas' main motivation is to lead it to the first Ivy League title in school history. While there's another three weeks until Ivy League play begins with a Friday night tilt hosting perennial power Harvard, and four games before that, things are off to a good start.

Columbia (2-0) opened the season with a pair of home wins over Davidson (1-2) and Quinnipiac (0-2) by a combined score of 12-2. Leading the way with three goals and two assists in the two wins, Farkas was named Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week.

The Lions didn't let a little rain — which became a torrential downpour at times in the first half on Sunday vs. the Bobcats — ruin their parade. From pregame warmups 45 minutes before the games the team was very loose and jovial. They cheered at parents and other student-athletes walking by during their warm up lap around the field. With music blaring, they were dancing during stretches. 

Farkas noted when the team is loose and having fun, they play better. As for the coach, she said it's about allowing each player to be their own unique self in general, especially to get themselves ready for a game.

"It comes from the approach that we've had pretty much since taking over the program," DeSandis said. "Everyone does have a unique way of going about things and just because you do it one way and one person does it another way doesn't mean one way is wrong or one way is right, so everyone might have like want to be dancey and silly someone might want to be super serious and everyone's able to be what they need for game day, because when you're yourself, you get to be comfortable and have the most fun. So I think that true individuality, but then oneness with the group is why they're able to do both, they're able to have a ton of fun and get the job done at the same time."

The more progressive approach comes in part due to DeSandis millennial status, which helps her relate to 18-to-22 year-olds she was just coaching as an assistant, and in their cleats playing as an All-Ivy League team captain for the Lions  player within the past decade.

Sometimes.

"They're all saying all this stuff on the sideline like 'we want the smoke' and I had to ask them what does that mean," DeSantis quipped. "So in a way I feel like I can connect with them because I am close to them but at the same time I'm definitely far removed. 

"But there is something I've always approached is a player's first approach so I'm gonna listen to you and whatever you want to do with the team, I'll think about it and bring it to the table. So we asked them a lot for feedback, we asked them what they wanted to do and we let them call corners because it is their team I'm here to help facilitate that experience. And I think when you actually do that — because some coaches talk about it and they don't, they don't really prioritize it because when push comes to shove, they want to win, and so do I, but the players are the ones that drive that ship, and I'm here to put them in positions to do so."
 
Fortunately for DeSandis in year one, her boat captain is a future United States National Team player that has a chance to produce an All-American season. If she does that, that likely means the Lions are in a good position to capture that elusive Ivy League crown.

"We've been close the first couple years that I was here and then we've kind of had some downs as well," Farkas said "Coming back this year I think we have a really strong first-year and sophomore class, as well as upperclassmen and I think that both of those things together is going to provide for a lot of success this season."

One worth coming back for.