NEW YORK - The Columbia lacrosse team hosted #24 Harvard on Saturday afternoon in the final game at Robert K. Kraft Field in 2024. The Crimson dominated from wire to wire, cruising to a 24-5 victory. 

With the win, Harvard improves to 10-3 on the year, and 4-2 in Ivy League games. For the third consecutive season, the Crimson clinched a spot at the Ivy League Tournament. Meanwhile, Columbia drops to 4-10 and 0-6 in the conference. 

The Crimson knew they needed to get off to a quick start in this game with a postseason spot on the line, and they certainly did. Harvard scored eight unanswered goals to begin the day, but Anna Becker put a stop to that with the Lions' first goal of the afternoon at the 2:42 mark of the first quarter. 

Two goals from Michelle Zhai and a goal from Ellie Taylor gave Columbia four goals before halftime, but the Lion defense couldn't slow down Harvard's attack. The Crimson led 16-4 at the break. 

Zhai completed her third career hat trick in the fourth quarter, but Harvard cruised to a 24-5 victory. 

Zhai's stellar rookie season continued on Saturday, as she accounted for all five Columbia goals with three goals and two assists. Dani Falcone added two assists, and is now four points away from 100 for her career, to go with three draw controls. Julie Griswold collected two caused turnovers and three ground balls. 

The Lions will conclude the 2024 season next Saturday against Yale at 3:30 p.m. in New Haven. 

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