NEW YORK – The Columbia women's soccer team (7-2-3) returns home Saturday after back-to-back road contests last week where the Lions posted 1-1 draws at Cornell and at Dartmouth. Columbia will host No. 16 Brown (8-1-2) Saturday at home for mental health awareness day. First kick is set for 6 p.m. at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.
 
THE MATCHUP
Columbia enters Saturday's contest coming off back-to-back draws at Cornell and Dartmouth. The Lions are 1-1-2 in Ivy League play with three games to go. Columbia will meet the No. 16 Brown Bears, who are 4-0 in Ivy League play so far. Brown posted a 4-1 win over Yale and a 2-1 win against Penn last week. The Bears got off to a great start in Ivy League action with a 2-0 win at Harvard and a 2-1 win against No. 13/15 Princeton.
 
Brittany Raphino has been critical to the Brown offense as she has totaled nine goals and four assists this season. Miya Grant-Clavijo and Kira Maguire have each added three goals for the Bears. Clare Gagne has been the primary keeper for the Bears, playing almost 850 total minutes in the net. She has allowed just five goals all season and has registered 22 saves with six wins credited to her.
 
THE SERIES
Brown has controlled the series recently, winning the last three straight. Columbia has not scored a goal against Brown since the Lions took a 2-1 win over the Bears in 2018. Prior to the current Brown win streak, Columbia held a streak of four straight wins in the series. Overall, Columbia is 12-17-7 against Brown.
 
LION LEADERS
Senior midfielder Kat Jordan leads the squad with five goals this season. Jordan scored the team's only goal at Dartmouth to help force the draw. Jordan also leads the team with 31 total shots and 14 shots on goal. A trio of Lions have come through with some critical assists this season. Sophomore Maia Tabion, senior forward Nata Ramirez and senior forward Madi Pilla have each registered three assists this season.
 
Senior goalkeeper Paige Nurkin has been a mainstay in the net as she has played 900 total minutes this season. Nurkin has allowed just five goals in 11 games played for a .50 goals against average. Nurkin has tallied 37 saves and is responsible for six of Columbia's wins this season.
 
CHECKING THE STATS
Columbia continues to be at the top of the national standings in goals against average, save percentage and shutout percentage. The Lions are currently No. 4 nationally in goals against average with a .417 average. Columbia ranks third in save percentage with a .886 percentage. The Lions have posted eight shutouts this season to come in at No. 6 nationally with a shutout percentage of .667.
 
IVY LEAGUE STANDINGS
Columbia enters Saturday's game against Brown at No. 5 in the Ivy League standings. The Lions are looking to make a late push for one of four spots in the inaugural Ivy League Tournament that will start on Friday, November 3. The Lions sit behind conference leader Brown, Princeton, Harvard and Dartmouth. The Lions lost to Harvard and battled to a draw at Dartmouth. Columbia will end the regular season on the road at Princeton in what could be a critical game for the Lions.
 
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
For the latest on the Columbia women's soccer program, follow @CULionsWSOC on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook at Facebook.com/ColumbiaWSoccer and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.