NEW YORK — After playing its first three games of the season on the road, the Columbia women's soccer team (0-1-2) will play in front of the home fans for the first time on Thursday for a matchup against FDU (0-2-3). The action begins from Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m.
Following Thursday night's game, Columbia will head back on the road for a test against No. 2 North Carolina. The Lions and Tar Heels square off for the first time on Sunday at 1 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
Fans unable to attend Thursday's home opener can
watch live on ESPN+. Live stats can be accessed
here.
Sunday's game at UNC will be streamed live on
ACC Network Extra (ACCNX). Fans should note that an ESPN+ subscription will not work for ACCNX. Fans who wish to watch must be logged in with a TV provider that has access to the ACC Network. ACCNX can also be accessed on the ESPN app/WatchESPN.com. Live stats can be accessed
here.
NATA GETS THE NOD
Nata Ramirez was named the Ivy League Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week for games played August 26 – September 1. Ramirez scored her first three goals of the season for her first collegiate hat trick in Sunday's 4-4 draw at Tennessee Tech. She opened the scoring by finishing a cross from
Sam Cohn in the 51st minute, put the Lions back on top with a leaping strike in the 64th minute, drew a penalty that
Maia Tabion finished in the 83rd and put away the final tally with 64 seconds left. The Ivy League Player of the Week Award is the first of Ramirez's career.
COLUMBIA'S STATUS
The Lions are hungry for their first win of the 2024 campaign. Despite scoring four times on Sunday at Tennessee Tech, Columbia traveled back to NYC having to settle for a draw. Ramirez scored three of the four goals and drew the penalty that
Maia Tabion finished to contribute to the fourth. Ramirez's three goals rank second in the Ivies behind Dartmouth's Daisy Granholm (5) -- she and Granholm are the other two players in the league who have scored more than once.
On the defensive side, the Lions opened the season on August 23 in a 0-0 shutout at Hofstra. Vanderbilt cracked the defense with two first-half goals and a third in the second half last Friday in Nashville. After a scoreless first half at Tennessee Tech, the two teams combined for eight goals in a barnburner of a second half. Through three games, the Lions are currently allowing 2.33 goals per contest.
SCOUTING FDU
The Knights are also in search of their first win but have been on the doorstep several times. In five contests this season, FDU has three draws and has lost its other two matches by just a single goal. They've scored six times in five games for an average of 1.2 goals per game. Elena Cvetkovic has scored twice, most recently on August 29 in a 1-1 draw at Providence. Rosemarie Leblanc has played every minute in goal, holding a GAA of 1.60 and coming up with 22 saves for a save percentage of .733.
Thursday will mark the 11th all-time meeting between the two teams. Columbia leads the series, 9-1-0, including a convincing, 8-0, victory last September in New York. FDU's only series victory came in Teaneck in 2015 by a score of 4-1.
SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA
UNC has started the year a perfect 6-0-0 and climbed to No. 2 in the latest
United Soccer Coaches Poll this week. Last week, they hosted North Dakota and Seton Hall, outscoring the two a combined 5-0 for the victories. The Tar Heels will visit archrival Duke on Thursday night before returning to Chapel Hill to host the Lions on Sunday.
Kate Faasse leads the UNC attack with four goals, which ranks No. 4 in the ACC and No. 29 nationally. Linda Ullmark has assisted three goals to rank top five in the conference and No. 35 in the NCAA. Starting goalkeeper Clare Gagne owns three shutouts in six matches and a GAA of 1.00. She ranks No. 9 in the NCAA in shutouts. Gagne's back line has made the work minimal, only recording nine saves to this point. In comparison, UNC's opponents have allowed 16 goals and made 48 saves.
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.
