NEW YORK – The Columbia women's soccer team is set to close out the 2025 regular season with a pivotal Ivy League showdown against Harvard on Saturday afternoon at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
The last spot in the Ivy League Tournament is currently up for grabs, and both the Lions and Crimson will clinch a spot with a victory, while the other team will be eliminated with a loss.
If the contest results in a draw, Columbia will need the Brown/Princeton game NOT to end a tie to clinch a postseason berth.
In addition, the Lions still have a chance to earn a share of the Ivy League Championship. With a win and Princeton/Brown tie, all eyes will turn to the Dartmouth/Cornell game. A Dartmouth loss or tie at that point would be the final domino to fall.
HOW TO FOLLOW
All Columbia home games and all Ivy League contests will be streamed via ESPN+. You can find tomorrow's game
HERE.
Live stats for Saturday's contest against the Crimson can be found via gocolumbialions.com,
HERE.
Follow @CULionsWSOC on X and Instagram for live updates and results during every match.
LAST TIME OUT
Columbia women's soccer came up short on the road Saturday afternoon, falling 2-0 to Princeton.
The Tigers were first to get on the scoreboard after a goal in the 16th minute when Dylan Jovanovic finished from close range off assists from Alexandra Barry and Caroline Kane. Princeton doubled its advantage in the 66th minute thanks to Nina Cantor's successful penalty kick.
Samantha Mahoney recorded two saves for the Lions, while the defensive trio of
Aoife Turner,
Justina Bitzer, and
Leila Hawkins limited Princeton to just four shots on target.
SCOUTING HARVARD
Harvard enters the weekend with a 5-5-3 overall record and a 3-2-1 mark in Ivy League play, currently tied with the Lions at 10 points on the Ivy ladder.
The Crimson fell short in their recent matchup against Penn. Harvard outshot the Quakers 24–4 but couldn't break through in a 2–1 defeat. Anna Rayhill netted the Crimson's lone goal, marking her third straight match with a score. Lauren Muniz paced the team with three shots on goal, while Rayhill, Jasmine Leshnick, and Audrey Francois each added two attempts on target.
This marks the 40th meeting between the two teams, with Harvard leading the all-time series 32-4-3.
Leshnick leads the team with 10 points off four goals and two assists, while Rayhill is now tied for the team lead with four goals. Rhiannon Stewart ranks third and fourth in the Ivy League (among goalies with 10-plus starts) with her 1.23 GAA and .746 save percentage, respectively.
ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
SENIOR SENDOFF
Columbia will honor its group of four seniors in a senior day ceremony prior to the match. This senior class was part of the first Columbia team in 19 years to advance to the NCAA Tournament, earning the program's first-ever at-large bid. They also helped the Lions make history in their second season, capturing the program's first NCAA Tournament victory with a first-round win over Rutgers at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.
Midfielder Maia Tabion has made a lasting impact at Columbia. The Washington native has appeared in nearly every match since arriving on campus in 2022, earning All-Ivy Honorable Mention as a first-year. Over her career, Tabion has totaled 10 goals and 10 assists, including a standout junior season with four goals and four assists. She has logged more than 2,800 minutes as a creative playmaker and steady presence in the Lions' attack.
Forward Charlyse Berry enters Senior Day with a proven record of impact in Columbia's front line. After appearing in 15 games with seven starts as a junior, Berry tallied two goals and one assist in her return to the field as a senior.
Defender Justina Bitzer has anchored Columbia's back line since arriving in 2022. The Michigan native has been a mainstay in the Lions' defense, appearing in all 15 games as a first-year and following that with 18 starts and over 1,600 minutes as a sophomore, helping Columbia post 10 shutouts. She also found the net last season in a 4-0 win over Providence.
Forward Sophia Stellabotte joined the Lions in 2024 and appeared in two matches throughout her career.
ON DECK
The Lions will await the result of this contest, along with other matches around the league before their fate and next destination is decided.
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.
