NEW YORK -- The Columbia lacrosse team (2-4) will welcome nearby Iona College to Robert K. Kraft Field for a 4:00 P.M. start on Tuesday. The Lions look to snap Iona's five-game winning streak by shutting down the offensive powerhouse. The Gaels have outscored opponents 88-62 en route to their best six-game start in recent history.
Fans in attendance continue to require proof of vaccination in accordance with
Columbia Athletics policy. Additionally, the game will be streamed through
ESPN+ with live stats on
GoColumbiaLions.com.
Here are five things to keep in mind ahead of first draw:
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Columbia's formerly untested underclass has proven vital in the Lions' success thus far. Rookie
Dani Falcone leads the team in total goals (11), including a game-winner, while securing 14 draw controls. Classmate
Kate Cunning has recorded the third-most goals so far (8) with seven draw controls, seven ground balls, and six caused turnovers.
On defense, first-year
Julie Griswold has been a fixture in the Lions' lineup, starting all six games in the backfield.
DEPTH IN GOAL
Through six contests, rookie
Simone Koryszewski and senior captain
Ryan Schlageter have split time in goal. Koryszewski backstopped the Lions to a pair of season-opening victories, making four starts on four appearances. The rookies sits second in the Ivy League in saves per game (12), making 44 stops on 113 shots faced.
Schlageter has made the last two starts between the pipes, recording a career-best day against Monmouth with 17 saves.
CHART TOPPERS
The following Lions lead Columbia, statistically:
Goals:
Dani Falcone (11)
Assists:
Sydney Paoletti (7)
Shots on Goal:
Dani Falcone &
Rachel Graff (16)
Draw Controls:
Sophie Zachara (17)
Ground Balls:
Simone Koryszewski (11)
Caused Turnovers:
Dani Falcone,
Kate Cunning,
Lauren Yun (6)
Saves:
Simone Koryszewski
LEAGUE HONOREES
Six different Lions have landed on the Ivy League Weekly Honor Roll thus. far Those recipients are detailed below.
Week 1 |
Simone Koryszewski, Rachel Graff
Week 2 |
Katie Lutz, Chandler Jean-Jacques
Week 3 |
Simone Koryszewski, Dani Falcone
Week 4 |
Ryan Schlageter, Dani Falcone
THE OPPONENT
Iona boasts a 5-1 record after defeating LIU (12-6), CCSU (20-7), Merrimack (15-14), Sacred Heart (13-11), and Lafayette (15-10).
Junior Emily Stewart and senior Leah Marshall pace the offense with 16 goals each. Stewart holds the edge in points with 20 while also leading the Gaels in ground balls (13) and caused turnovers (9) while Marshall has secured 25 draw controls. Senior Megan Collins has been an essential play maker, dishing out a team-high 13 assists.
First-year Sofia Votto has started all six games in goal, making 41 saves with 54 goals against for a .432 save percentage.
For the latest on Columbia lacrosse, follow @Columbia_Lax on Twitter, @CULionsLAX on Instagram, on Facebook at Facebook.com/ColumbiaLax and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
