COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — Senior Nata Ramirez netted her first collegiate hat trick, including a game-tying goal with 64 seconds remaining, in leading the Columbia women's soccer team through a wild, 4-4, draw against Tennessee Tech on Sunday evening. All eight of the game's goals were scored in the final 40 minutes.
 
Ramirez broke through with the game's first goal in the 51st minute, driving home a cross sent in from out wide by Sam Cohn. Tennessee Tech (0-4-2) leveled the score just over two minutes later when it was awarded a penalty for a foul in the box and Katie Toney converted.
 
Ramirez put the Lions back on top in the 64th minute. This time, she leaped through the air at the top of the six to touch home a ball sent in from the far corner by Maia Tabion. However, again, Tech responded. Neve Renwick finished a through ball to bring the game back on even terms in the 70th minute. Ten minutes later, Renwick struck again to give the home side its first lead of the night.
 
Trailing for the first time, Columbia kept the pressure on and was rewarded. Ramirez gained control inside the far corner of the penalty area, made a move back and was taken down by her defender. The referee signaled for a penalty and Tabion was called upon to take it. Despite Maggie Conrad guessing correctly, Tabion's penalty was true, driving her shot past the hand of the diving keeper and inside the left post to bring the game to its third tie.
 
The roller-coaster of a second half continued through the final minutes. After the ball took several deflections inside the penalty area, TTU's Anna Baker placed a perfectly weighted shot just under the crossbar and into the far corner to see-saw her team back on top.
 
Columbia needed an answer to walk away with a result and got it from Ramirez. This time, she was helped out by first-year Dema Elder, who sent a beautiful overpass from Columbia's own half toward goal. Ramirez's speed was too much for the Golden Eagles defense, getting in behind and tapping her shot over an onrushing Conrad to bring the game to its final tally.
 
The Lions outshot Tennessee Tech, 20-9, and put 13 of their attempts on goal. They also out-cornered TTU, 7-1, getting themselves into a scoring position on a number of occasions.
 
Columbia was heavily in control over the opening 20 minutes. The Lions applied pressure early but TTU kept them in check with the offside trap. The linesman blew the whistle for offside against Columbia three times in the first 11 minutes and ultimately seven times in the half.
 
Columbia got the ball back on the Golden Eagles' half of the field and drew its first corner just over the half-hour mark. Its best chance of the half came a few minutes later when Ramirez shook a defender and drove the ball all the way inside the right half of the area. She blasted a shot toward the near post from eight yards but saw it go wide off the side netting.
 
TTU's best chance of the opening 45 minutes came off a free kick in the 40th minute. The ball was sent into the area and got loose in the box. Columbia attempted to clear but Cheyenne McCloud was waiting just outside the box and one-timed a hard shot that threatened but was barely off the top-left corner.

UP NEXT
After playing their first three games of the year on the road, the Lions prepare for their 2024 home opener this Thursday against Fairleigh Dickinson. Columbia and FDU kick off at 7 p.m.
 
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
For the latest on the Columbia women's soccer program, follow @CULionsWSOC on X, Instagram, Facebook at Facebook.com/ColumbiaWSoccer and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.