NEW YORK — The Columbia women's soccer team led on two separate occasions but La Salle found a way to equalize both times, as the two sides played to an entertaining, 2-2, draw Wednesday night in non-conference action at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.
Substitutes Annie Diaz-Silveira and Mia Ferrentino were the goal scorers for Columbia (5-3-2). Diaz-Silveira netted her second of the season, giving the Lions the breakthrough and the lead at the half. After La Salle leveled eight minutes into the second half, Mia Ferrentino got to a loose ball in the penalty area to slide home her third career goal and put Columbia back on top.
The lead lasted 36 seconds. La Salle (6-6-1) won a penalty kick at the 77:57 mark for a foul in the box on Ricshya Walker. Alyssa Gargiulo stepped up to take the penalty and slotted it perfectly inside the left post to bring the match to its eventual final.
The two sides combined for 24 shots. Columbia took 13 of them, six on goal, including seven shots off the foot of Kat Jordan. Her 78th-minute assist on Ferrentino's goal came after she sent in a free kick from 35 yards that bounced off the foot of a La Salle defender. The deflection sent the ball toward the far post, where Ferrentino slid in and slammed it into the back of the net.
Diaz-Silveira's 36th-minute tally to open the scoring came on a heads-up play by the junior. Once again, it was Ferrentino who was also involved, playing a ball into the box that bounced off one Explorer defender and was controlled by Gargiulo. With the ball rolling toward goal, Gargiulo unsuccessfully attempted to box out Diaz-Silveira. Instead, Diaz-Silveira snuck her foot between Gargiulo's legs and tapped the ball past goalkeeper Jordynn Staliard for her second goal of the season.
For the Lions, goalkeeper
Liz Matei had two saves on the evening. Both of her stops came in dramatic fashion, tipping one shot off the crossbar and diving to save another late in the second half. Staliard and Michela Auguadro combined for four saves for La Salle.
With non-conference play in the rear-view mirror, Columbia turns its attention to Ivy League competition. The Lions will visit Penn (3-1-7) this Saturday for a 2 p.m. kickoff at Penn Park.
Stay up to date on all things Columbia women's soccer by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsWSOC), Instagram (@culionswsoc) and Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics), and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
