NEW YORK – Powered by a three-game winning streak, the Columbia women's soccer team (3-2-1) will host two out of conference opponents in the team's last homestand before beginning Ivy League play. On Friday, the Lions will kickoff against Seton Hall at 6 p.m. ET before facing Quinnipiac at Rocco B. Commisso stadium for a 2:30 p.m. ET start.
Fans can catch all the action on ESPN+ or follow live stats at
gocolumbialions.com.
Here are five things to know heading into the weekend.
#1 | THREE CHEERS FOR THREE WINS
Columbia is enjoying a three-game winning streak after defeating Bucknell, La Salle, and Fairleigh Dickinson in out of conference play. In the most recent three contests, Columbia has outscored opponents 6-1 while owning a 54-30 shot advantage.
#2 | HONOR ROLL HONOREES
Three different Lions have landed on the Ivy League Weekly Honor Roll this season, including two new recipients this week. Those honorees are detailed below.
Week 1 (Sept. 1) |
Nata Ramirez,
Ally Clark
Week 2 (Sept. 7) |
Nata Ramirez,
Paige Nurkin
Week 2 (Sept. 13)
Sophia Cavaliere, Claire Pinnie
#3 | CHART TOPPERS
The Lions will enter the weekend eiyh four athletes atop the team's offensive leaderboard.
Madi Pilla,
Nata Ramirez,
Sophia Cavaliere, and
Ally Clark have all scored two goals with Pilla and Ramirez also contributing two assists for a team-leading six points. Cavaliere and Clark moved into the four-way tie with strikes on Sunday, scoring once each in a 3-0 victory at FDU.
#4 | GOALKEEPING DEPTH
Led by sophomore
Paige Nurkin, Columbia boasts significant depth in goal. All three of Columbia's keepers have seen game action including a shared clean sheet at Fairleigh Dickinson with both
Audrey Byrne and
Lauren Rodriguez earning time. With nearly 400 minutes to her name, Nurkin currently possesses and 0.95 goals against average with a 0.818 save percentage and two shutouts.
#5 | OPPONENTS
Seton Hall
Columbia will face Seton Hall (5-2) on Friday, having last done so Aug. 27, 2017, in a 4-2 victory for the Lions. Seton Hall has enjoyed a two-game winning streak, taking down Iona 6-3 and Lehigh 1-0 at home. The Lions and Pirates have shared one similar foe this season, both competing at FDU in out of conference play. Columbia came away with the win while Seton Hall fell to the Knights in double overtime.
Senior Naomi Welch currently leads the Pirates with four goals and three assists for a team-best 11 points on the season. On the opposite end of the pitch Gordon Grace has played every minute of the season in goal, producing 0.70 goals against average and a 0.839 save percentage.
Quinnipiac
Sunday's opponent, Quinnipiac, is off to a fantastic, beginning the season at 5-0 to match its best start since 2012. The Bobcats opened their season with two clean sheets, defeating Lafayette 3-0 then Yale 4-0 on home turf. Despite allowing goals in the following two contests, Quinnipiac defeated both Maine (4-1) and Vermont (3-1) by multi-goal margins. The Bobcats closest contest was their most recent, when they defeated Fordham 3-2 on the road.
The big cats last battled at the 2005 Columbia Soccer Tournament, a 1-0 victory for the Lions.
Quinnipiac is led by senior midfielder Selena Salas. The two-time All-MAAC honoree (2018, 2021) has been named the MAAC Offensive Player of the Week in the last three consecutive weeks. She ranks second on her team in goals (4) behind sophomore Rebecca Cooke with a team-leading seven goals and two assists.
