Columbia
Princeton
10/30/2026 4:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
First-place Lions look for fifth straight Ivy League win in Halloween showdown with multiple clinching scenarios in play
NEW YORK – Columbia women's soccer returns to Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium on Saturday, October 31, to host Princeton at 6 p.m. in its final home match of the regular season. The Halloween matchup will feature Senior Day festivities and the Lions' Pride Game as Columbia looks to extend its four-match Ivy League winning streak.
Columbia enters the contest at 5-6-3 overall and 4-1 in Ivy League play, sitting atop the conference standings with 12 points. Princeton comes to New York at 7-5-1 overall and 3-2 in conference action, tied for third with nine points. With just two regular-season matches remaining, Saturday's contest carries significant implications for the Ivy League championship race and postseason positioning.
Prior to kickoff, Columbia will honor its four seniors: Sophia Ambrose, Katrina Chorzepa, Samantha Weiss and Maia Beltran.
HOW TO FOLLOW
All Columbia home games and all Ivy League contests will be streamed via ESPN+. Saturday's game against Princeton can be found HERE.
Live stats for Saturday's game will be available via gocolumbialions.com, HERE.
Follow @CULionsWSOC on X and Instagram for live updates and results during every match.
LAST TIME OUT
For the second consecutive week, Columbia erased a 2-0 deficit to earn a thrilling 3-2 victory, this time against Yale last Saturday in New Haven.
After the Bulldogs scored twice in the opening 25 minutes, Beltran sparked the comeback with a penalty kick in the 42nd minute. The senior captain struck again in the 74th minute, curling a corner kick toward goal that deflected off the Yale goalkeeper and narrowly crossed the line before being cleared away. Following a VAR review, the equalizer was confirmed.
With just 2:43 remaining in regulation, Gabby Chan completed the comeback with the game-winning goal off assists from Beltran and Angel Akanyirige. Beltran finished with two goals and an assist for a five-point performance, while Katrina Chorzepa made two second-half saves to earn the victory.
The win marked Columbia's fourth consecutive Ivy League victory and second straight 3-2 comeback after overcoming a two-goal deficit at Penn the previous weekend.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
With Columbia entering Saturday atop the Ivy League standings, the Lions have an opportunity to secure both a conference championship and a berth in the Ivy League Tournament. While numerous clinching scenarios remain in play, the following are the most significant heading into the weekend.
Outright Ivy League Championship: Columbia can clinch the Ivy League title outright with a victory over Princeton, combined with a tie or loss by each of Brown, Harvard and Dartmouth.
Share of Ivy League Championship: Columbia can clinch at least a share of the Ivy League title with a victory over Princeton and a Brown tie or loss.
Ivy League Tournament Berth: Columbia can clinch a spot in the Ivy League Tournament with a victory over Princeton. The Lions can also secure a tournament berth with a tie against Princeton, provided Brown ties or loses to Cornell.
With the regular season winding down, Saturday presents a major opportunity for the Lions to take another step toward postseason success.
SCOUTING PRINCETON
Princeton enters Saturday's matchup riding a two-match winning streak following victories over Cornell and Dartmouth. The Tigers most recently defeated Dartmouth, 2-1, on October 25 behind two goals from Stella Monberg, including the game-winner in the 79th minute.
The Tigers have won three of their last four Ivy League contests, with victories over Yale, Cornell and Dartmouth. Princeton has recorded five shutouts this season and outshot opponents 199-116 through 13 matches.
Monberg leads Princeton's attack with eight goals and 19 points, including four game-winning goals. Dylan Jovanovic follows with four goals and four assists for 12 points, while Lily Wong has contributed three goals and a team-high five assists for 11 points.
In goal, Sydney Romano has been a key contributor, posting a 0.80 goals-against average in Ivy League action.
Princeton leads the all-time series against Columbia, 25-9-6, and has won the last two meetings. The Tigers earned a 2-0 victory in Princeton last season, while Columbia's most recent win in the series came in 2023, a 1-0 road victory.
ROSTER - SCHEDULE - STATS
SENIOR SENDOFF
Columbia will honor its four seniors in a pregame ceremony Saturday evening. This group was part of a historic 2023 season that saw the Lions earn their first-ever NCAA Tournament at-large bid and capture the program's first NCAA Tournament victory with a first-round win over Rutgers at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.
Together, the four seniors have combined for 96 appearances, 34 starts and 3,622 minutes on the field, while contributing 20 points, a goalkeeper victory and three saves.
Forward Sophia Ambrose has appeared in 28 matches during her Columbia career, making one start. The Great Falls, Virginia native recorded her first career assist in an 8-0 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in 2023.
Goalkeeper Katrina Chorzepa made her collegiate debut against Fairleigh Dickinson in 2023 and has continued to contribute during her senior season. Most recently, the Berlin, Connecticut native entered at halftime against Yale and made two saves without allowing a goal, earning the victory in Columbia's dramatic 3-2 comeback.
Defender and captain Samantha Weiss has appeared in 22 matches for the Lions, making six starts throughout her career. The Mercer Island, Washington native also represented Argentina at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, gaining international experience while representing Columbia on the world stage.
Forward and captain Maia Beltran is enjoying a career-best senior campaign, leading Columbia with four goals and 10 points. The Oakland, California native was named Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week on October 19 after helping the Lions erase a two-goal deficit in a 3-2 victory at Penn. She followed that performance with two goals and an assist in another 3-2 comeback win at Yale, contributing to all three Columbia goals. Beltran has appeared in 43 career matches with 27 starts, recording seven goals and five assists.
HALLOWEEN AND PRIDE GAME
Saturday's match will also serve as Columbia's Pride Game, celebrating inclusion and belonging within the Columbia Athletics community. With the contest taking place on Halloween, fans are invited to enjoy a festive evening of Ivy League soccer as the Lions recognize their senior class in their final regular-season home appearance.
UP NEXT
Columbia concludes its regular season on Saturday, November 7, traveling to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to face Harvard at 6 p.m. The Ivy League Tournament is scheduled for November 12–15.
TRIBUTE TO COMMISSO
Columbia will honor the memory of Rocco B. Commisso '71SEAS '75BUS throughout the 2026 season with a commemorative patch featuring his initials, "RBC," on its kits. Commisso, who passed away on Jan. 16, 2026, at age 76, was a standout Columbia men's soccer player, longtime supporter of Columbia Athletics and accomplished business leader.
A three-year All-Ivy League honoree as both a defensive and offensive player, he helped lead the Lions to winning records in each of his four seasons. As co-captain of the 1970 team, he helped guide Columbia to its first NCAA Tournament appearance.
Commisso went on to become a successful entrepreneur, founding Mediacom Communications in 1995 and building it into one of the nation's largest cable television providers. He remained closely connected to soccer throughout his life, including ownership roles with the New York Cosmos and Italian Serie A club ACF Fiorentina.
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.
