NEW YORK — Sophomore Nata Ramirez scored in the ninth minute and the Columbia women's soccer team held on the rest of the way to defeat Bucknell, 1-0, Sunday afternoon at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.
 
The win was the first of the season for Columbia (1-2-1), which bounced back nicely from a home-opening defeat on Thursday against Hofstra. The Lions won the possession battle and ultimately outshot Bucknell (2-3-1) by a margin of 15-9. The Bison put six of their attempts on goal, including a few late, but sophomore keeper Paige Nurkin did well to corral every attempt through some light rain on an otherwise comfortable afternoon.
 
"It feels good. When your players work as hard as they do to have great opportunities to finish and they finally get one and we get the lead," Columbia head coach Tracey Bartholomew stated. "I'm super proud that they got the shutout as well. It's something that we want to do each game and it keeps us in every game if we don't let in any goals."
 
Sunday's lone goal started with a turnover in the Bucknell half of the field. First-year Sophia Cavaliere quickly got to it and took one touch up the field before playing it through for Ramirez. The speedster got by three Bison defenders and found herself one-on-one with keeper Jenna Hall, who came way off her line to try and beat Ramirez to the ball. Ramirez cleverly touched the ball around the keeper before picking up her head and depositing a left-footed shot into an open net.
 
"When I saw the goalie come out, I got a little nervous, but I know one of my strengths is to take her on one-on-one," Ramirez said. "As soon as I got around her the goal was completely open, so I just picked up my head and finished it."
  The Lions had a few opportunities to add to that lead through the first half. In the 19th minute, Ally Clark got in some space down the right side of the penalty area and sent a dangerous cross into the near post. Madi Pilla came sprinting across from the far post to try and head it home, but Hall got enough of it to keep it a one-goal game.
 
Columbia's best chance of the half to add to the lead came in the 27th minute. Ramirez played a beautiful bouncing ball into the left side of the penalty area and in behind for Pilla, who fired a left-footed strike that was saved and bounced right back to her. Pilla then chipped the rebound over Hall but had it fall on the crossbar. Annie Diaz-Silveira had one final opportunity to put it away, but her attempt was blocked out of play.
 
It wouldn't be the last time the Lions found the post. In the 81st minute, Diaz-Silveira had an attempt from 10 yards saved but collected by Ramirez. The goal scorer, with her back to the net, played a short pass for Clark, who blasted a shot from inside the 18 that slammed off the crossbar and straight into the turf. Thankfully for the Bison, the ball caromed toward Hall, who covered it up to prevent any further damage.
 
Bucknell had a couple peeks at goal through the final 25 minutes but nothing too dangerous for Nurkin, who wound up with six saves to earn her first clean sheet.
 
Columbia heads on the road for its next two games, beginning Wednesday in Philadelphia to battle La Salle. Kickoff is set for 6 p.ml ET.

For the latest on the Columbia women's soccer program, follow @CULionsWSOC on Twitter and Instagram, on Facebook at Facebook.com/ColumbiaWSoccer and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.