Friday, September 4
Davis, Calif.
3:00 P.M.
Columbia
at
UC Davis
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Stockton Photo, Inc.
Field Hockey Opens 2026 Season at UC Davis on Friday; Visits Cal on Sunday
9/3/2026 11:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
The Lions embark on their third season under head coach Niki Miller
NEW YORK — Columbia field hockey opens the 2026 season with a pair of matches on the West Coast this weekend. The Lions face UC Davis on Friday at 3 p.m. ET at Aggie Field Hockey Facility before traveling to Berkeley on Sunday to take on California at 4 p.m. ET at Underhill Field.
How to Watch/Follow
Friday's season opener against UC Davis (1-1) can be watched live on YouTube and followed via live stats. Sunday's match at Cal (2-0) can be watched live on ESPN+ and followed via live stats.
The Schedule
The Lions will play eight matches at home in 2026. Columbia's home promotional contests feature the Broach Foundation Match on Sept. 13 vs. LIU, Youth Game on Sept. 20 vs. Quinnipiac, Morgan's Message Match on Sept. 27 vs. Monmouth, and Alumni Day on Oct. 4 vs. Dartmouth. Senior day is set for Sunday, Oct. 25 vs. Rider. The Ivy League Tournament is set for the weekend of Nov. 6-8 and will be hosted by the highest seed. The full schedule can be found by clicking here.
The Roster
Columbia field hockey coach Niki Miller officially announced Avery Burnett, Veera Chidanandan, Nadia Gross, Audrey Owen-Smith, Marisa Rubano, Georgia Schmitz, and Norah Veldhuizen as the program's 2026 recruiting class. All seven players will enroll at Columbia as first-years.
"This incoming group of athletes represents an exciting new chapter for Columbia Field Hockey," Miller said. "They bring talent, determination, and a strong competitive spirit that will elevate our program. As my first recruiting class, they hold a special place in building the culture and future success of this team. I'm looking forward to seeing how they grow, contribute, and leave their mark both on and off the field."
The 2026 signing class join 20 returning letterwinners to the 2026 Columbia field hockey team. Junior and back-to-back All-Ivy League Second Team selection Jacinta Solari Etcheberry looks to pace the Lions offensively, while the 2025 Ivy League leader in saves and saves per game, Margot Houle, will start in the cage.
Preseason Watchlist
Columbia field hockey's Lizzie Adams, Mckenzie Bloom, Margot Houle, and Jacinta Solari Etcheberry have been named to the 2026 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Watchlist, powered by Performance Sports Events (PSE).
The 2026 NFHCA Watchlist recognizes field hockey student-athletes who have demonstrated a high level of achievement and are considered among those with strong potential for NFHCA All-Region and All-American consideration this season. Student-athletes were nominated by their NFHCA member coaches and must have earned qualifying field hockey recognition within the previous two years. Qualifying honors include NFHCA All-Region, NFHCA All-America, All-Conference, Senior Nexus Championship selection, NCAA All-Tournament Team, or selection to a U.S. National or international team roster.
The Captains
Emma Reilly, Jacinta Solari Etcheberry, Mckenzie Bloom, and Margot Houle will serve as the program's captains in 2026.
Standing in the Hall of Fame
Christina Freibott '16CC will be inducted into the Columbia Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 22. Freibott is Columbia's all-time leader in career points (99), second in assists (45), and tied for fifth in school history with 27 goals.
As a junior in 2014, the Wilmington, Delaware, native authored one of the finest individual seasons ever by a Lion, setting single-season program records with 41 points and 21 assists while leading the nation in assists per game. Her remarkable campaign earned unanimous Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year honors, First Team All-Ivy League recognition, First Team All-Mideast Region accolades and Third Team NFHCA All-America honors, making her the program's first All-American in seven years.
Series History - UC Davis
Friday marks the first-ever meeting between the Lions and Aggies.
Series History - Cal
Sunday's match features the second all-time meeting against the Golden Bears. Columbia was shutout in the first-ever meeting between the two teams in 2006, 6-0.
Up Next
Columbia returns to New York City next weekend for home matches against UAlbany on Friday, Sept. 11 and LIU on Sunday, Sept. 13.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia field hockey, follow @CULionsFH on social media and GoColumbiaLions.com for more updates.
How to Watch/Follow
Friday's season opener against UC Davis (1-1) can be watched live on YouTube and followed via live stats. Sunday's match at Cal (2-0) can be watched live on ESPN+ and followed via live stats.
The Schedule
The Lions will play eight matches at home in 2026. Columbia's home promotional contests feature the Broach Foundation Match on Sept. 13 vs. LIU, Youth Game on Sept. 20 vs. Quinnipiac, Morgan's Message Match on Sept. 27 vs. Monmouth, and Alumni Day on Oct. 4 vs. Dartmouth. Senior day is set for Sunday, Oct. 25 vs. Rider. The Ivy League Tournament is set for the weekend of Nov. 6-8 and will be hosted by the highest seed. The full schedule can be found by clicking here.
The Roster
Columbia field hockey coach Niki Miller officially announced Avery Burnett, Veera Chidanandan, Nadia Gross, Audrey Owen-Smith, Marisa Rubano, Georgia Schmitz, and Norah Veldhuizen as the program's 2026 recruiting class. All seven players will enroll at Columbia as first-years.
"This incoming group of athletes represents an exciting new chapter for Columbia Field Hockey," Miller said. "They bring talent, determination, and a strong competitive spirit that will elevate our program. As my first recruiting class, they hold a special place in building the culture and future success of this team. I'm looking forward to seeing how they grow, contribute, and leave their mark both on and off the field."
The 2026 signing class join 20 returning letterwinners to the 2026 Columbia field hockey team. Junior and back-to-back All-Ivy League Second Team selection Jacinta Solari Etcheberry looks to pace the Lions offensively, while the 2025 Ivy League leader in saves and saves per game, Margot Houle, will start in the cage.
Preseason Watchlist
Columbia field hockey's Lizzie Adams, Mckenzie Bloom, Margot Houle, and Jacinta Solari Etcheberry have been named to the 2026 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Watchlist, powered by Performance Sports Events (PSE).
The 2026 NFHCA Watchlist recognizes field hockey student-athletes who have demonstrated a high level of achievement and are considered among those with strong potential for NFHCA All-Region and All-American consideration this season. Student-athletes were nominated by their NFHCA member coaches and must have earned qualifying field hockey recognition within the previous two years. Qualifying honors include NFHCA All-Region, NFHCA All-America, All-Conference, Senior Nexus Championship selection, NCAA All-Tournament Team, or selection to a U.S. National or international team roster.
The Captains
Emma Reilly, Jacinta Solari Etcheberry, Mckenzie Bloom, and Margot Houle will serve as the program's captains in 2026.
Standing in the Hall of Fame
Christina Freibott '16CC will be inducted into the Columbia Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 22. Freibott is Columbia's all-time leader in career points (99), second in assists (45), and tied for fifth in school history with 27 goals.
As a junior in 2014, the Wilmington, Delaware, native authored one of the finest individual seasons ever by a Lion, setting single-season program records with 41 points and 21 assists while leading the nation in assists per game. Her remarkable campaign earned unanimous Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year honors, First Team All-Ivy League recognition, First Team All-Mideast Region accolades and Third Team NFHCA All-America honors, making her the program's first All-American in seven years.
Series History - UC Davis
Friday marks the first-ever meeting between the Lions and Aggies.
Series History - Cal
Sunday's match features the second all-time meeting against the Golden Bears. Columbia was shutout in the first-ever meeting between the two teams in 2006, 6-0.
Up Next
Columbia returns to New York City next weekend for home matches against UAlbany on Friday, Sept. 11 and LIU on Sunday, Sept. 13.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia field hockey, follow @CULionsFH on social media and GoColumbiaLions.com for more updates.
Players Mentioned
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