Columbia University
Hofstra
Women’s Soccer Opens 2025 Season against Hofstra
8/21/2025 5:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Columbia takes on the Pride Friday at 2 p.m. at Commisso Stadium
On Sunday, the Lions will take on the Villanova Wildcats in their first road match of the season. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
All Columbia home games and all Ivy League contests will be streamed via ESPN+. You can find tomorrow's game HERE. Sunday's game against Villanova will be streamed on YouTube and can be found HERE.
Live stats for tomorrow's game will be available via gocolumbialions.com, HERE. Live stats for Sunday's contest against Villanova can be found HERE.
Follow @CULionsWSOC on X and Instagram for live updates and results during every match.
LAST SEASON
The Lions are coming off a 7-5-4 finish in 2024, going 5-1-1 in Ivy League play. In Coach Tracey Bartholomew's 12th year at the helm, Columbia not only improved upon its win total for the third consecutive season, but also earned the second seed in the Ivy League Tournament which was the team's highest finish in the regular season since 2017.
Despite falling short in the first round of the 2024 Ivy League Tournament with a 2-1 loss to Brown, the Lions are as hungry as ever to get back to the NCAA Tournament where they broke through in 2023 with their first win in the big dance in program history over Rutgers.
Statistically in 2024, Columbia outpaced opponents with 26 goals to 19, averaging 1.63 goals per game to their opponents' 1.19. The Lions' 183 shots, 100 corners, and 27 assists further underscore a dynamic and assertive style of play in 2024 that they will look to carry over into this season.
Columbia was picked to finish fourth in the 2025 Ivy League Preseason Poll, projected to finish behind Princeton, Brown and Harvard.
NEW FACES
13 newcomers joined the Lions over the summer, ready to make an impact on and off the field in 2025.
All 13 incoming players enter Columbia as first-year students, coming from a variety of different areas across the United States. The group consists of three forwards, five midfielders, three defenders, and two goalkeepers.
For more information on the entire class of 2029 and what the group will be bringing to the field, click HERE.
KEY RETURNERS
The Lions are returning a core of 20 experienced players, including four seniors who helped shape the team's success over the last couple of seasons.
On offense, junior forward Maia Tabion (four goals in 2024) returns to anchor the attack. She will be joined by senior forward Charlyse Berry, who brings leadership and experience up front, junior forward Maia Beltran, returning after missing the 2024 season and offering versatility across the attacking pod, as well as rising star sophomore Angel Akanyirige who scored two goals in 2024.. The midfield is further strengthened by sophomore stars Annie Faraone and Dema Elder, both of whom return to help maintain possession and create chances.
Defensively, junior defender Trinity Parameswaran returns to help anchor the backline with composure and defensive know‑how. Senior defender Justina Bitzer also returns, providing height and stability at the back. They are also joined by the likes of Samantha Weiss, Aiofe Turner, and Nosa Omorogbe.
In goal, sophomore goalkeeper Samantha Mahoney brings the most experience appearing in four games in 2024 making two saves in 97 minutes, while not allowing any goals. She is joined by returners Isabel Ackerman and Katrina Chorzepa with limited, but positive experience.
SCOUTING HOFSTRA
The Pride enter Friday's contest with two games already under their belt, winning both of them. Hofstra opened the season with a 2-1 win over Saint Joseph's and followed that up with a 3-0 win over Quinnipiac.
Last season, the Pride finished 8-5-6 overall and advanced to the CAA semifinals. In the 2025 CAA Preseason Poll, Hofstra was projected to finish third in the North Division behind Stony Brook and Monmouth, with midfielder Millie Davies and defender Gabriella Marte earning Preseason All-CAA recognition.
Hofstra heads into year 19 under head coach Simon Riddiough with a strong returning core that includes Davies, graduate forward Mathilde Braithwaite, and seniors Thorhildur Thorhallsdottir and Aimee Hodgson. The backline is anchored by Marte along with Olivia Pearse, while junior Sasha McTiffin provides support in the midfield.
So far in 2025, the Pride have been balanced offensively, with Manon Lebargy scoring twice, and Pearse and Hailey Moschitta each finding the back of the net once through the first two games.
ROSTER - SCHEDULE - STATS
SCOUTING VILLANOVA
The Wildcats enter Sunday's match coming off a narrow road setback to Michigan. Villanova took the lead in the 70th minute on a penalty kick converted by Amalia Cardo—her first career goal—but Michigan responded with two late goals to secure a 2-1 victory. Nova will take on #10 Wake Forrest later tonight in North Carolina before making the trip to NYC this weekend for match number three.
Last season, the Wildcats finished middle of the pack in the Big East with a 7-7-4 overall record and 2-3-5 mark in conference play. In the 2025 Big East Preseason Coaches' Poll, Villanova was projected to finish eighth with 33 points, sitting just behind DePaul and ahead of Marquette.
Villanova returns several key contributors in 2025, including leading scorer Izzy DellaRatta, who tallied six goals last fall, along with midfielder Izzy McIntyre and defender Emma Weaver, both of whom started every match in 2024. Goalkeeper Katie Sullivan also returns after starting 15 games and recording four shutouts, giving the Wildcats a solid core to build around in Samar Azem's fourth season at the helm.
ROSTER - SCHEDULE - STATS
ON DECK
Columbia will fly out to California for a two-game west coast swing, first taking on Pepperdine on Thursday, August 28 in Malibu. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. EST.
The Lions' full 2025 schedule can be found HERE.
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.
