NEW YORK – The Lions continued their scoring streak Wednesday night at Rocco B. Commisso Stadium in a 5-0 win against NJIT. Columbia improves to 5-1-1 this season with one contest remaining before the start of Ivy League play.
 
The 5-0 win extends Columbia's win streak to three games. The three-game span has featured 15 total goals, which is a new program record. Columbia defeated Fordham, 2-0 last Thursday, then earned an 8-0 win against Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday before posting a 5-0 win tonight. The 13 goals scored in the past two games ties a program record for goals scored in back-to-back contests. The Lions set the mark initially in 2017 with a 2-0 win at Cornell followed by an 11-0 win against Wagner.
 
Columbia's current 5-1-1 overall record marks the sixth time in program history the Lions have won five of their first seven games. Columbia previously did so in 2015, 2010, 2004, 2001 and 1997.
 
"The standard is very high," Bartholomew said. "The team really wants to go out and perform and do well, and they are having fun doing it. You can see how much they enjoy playing with each other, which is awesome. Obviously, getting a result again with that many goals is really great for our program."
 
Senior Grace Hurren found the net first Wednesday night in the 26^th minute to give the Lions the early lead and mark her first goal scored of the season. Junior defender Ania Prussak was credited with the assist.
 
Senior forward Shira Cohen scored the second goal of the night in the 43^rd minute as she found some speed and rushed through a closing gap of NJIT defenders to fire the ball into the back of the net. Cohen was assisted by fellow senior forward Madi Pilla. The goal marked Cohen's first of the 2023 season.
 
Coming out of the break, sophomore defender Justina Bitzer found herself in the scoring column in the 58^th minute as she fired a shot from beyond the penalty box that got past the NJIT goalkeeper on the left side of the goal. The goal was Bitzer's first career goal as a Lion. Prussak aided with her second assist of the night.
 
Even with a big lead, the Lions didn't let up as senior forward Nata Ramirez scored her second goal of the season in the 61^st minute to put the Lions up, 4-0. Taking a pass from Pilla, Ramirez maneuvered past multiple defenders en route to the goal, where she was able to fire a perfect shot through the right side of the goal.
 
"I am really excited for Nata," Bartholomew said. "She has worked so hard to come back. She had some great opportunities tonight. For her to dribble by a handful of people and score hopefully makes her confident with her abilities. That was really fun to see too."
 
Junior Spencer Robbins capped off the night by scoring her first goal of the season in the 84^th minute on a Cohen assist to seal the 5-0 Columbia win.
 
Senior goalkeeper Paige Nurkin earned the win as she totaled two saves. Nurkin played the first half before senior Elizabeth Matei and junior Lauren Rodriguez game in during the second half.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions hit the road for one last non-conference matchup before Ivy League competition begins. Columbia will face Providence in a battle of teams ranked in the United Soccer Coaches East Region rankings. Columbia is currently No. 9 in the poll, while Providence sits at No. 5. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Saturday.

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.