Nov. 2, 2004

Box Score

Columbia women's soccer celebrated Senior Night in style as they beat St. John's 2-1 in overtime. Shannon Munoz scored both goals for the Lions including the golden goal in the 95th minute. Erissa Aronson, Rachel Biondolillo, Eva Gudbjornsdottir and Lauren Nussbaum all played key roles for Columbia in their last home match. With the win the Lions improved to 9-7-0.

The Lions struck first as Aubrey Medal (C-Westlake, Calif.) gathered a loose ball in the middle of the park around 30 yards out. She passed quickly to Munoz (C-Coto De Caza, Calif.) at the top of the box who turned took two touches to the right and then fired past the keeper towards the far post. The goal was Munoz's seventh of the season and put her over 20 points on the season.

St. John's responded seven minutes later off a corner kick. Erinn Flaherty sent a high cross towards the penalty spot where Holly Ryder rose above the Columbia defense and headed just under the bar for the equalizer.

Munoz nearly gave the Lions the lead back in the 24th minute, but her individual effort just missed. The sophomore forward charged down a St. John's defender and stripped the ball. She made a couple of nice moves to free some space for herself, but was unable to beat the three Red Storm defenders and sent her shot over the bar.

Erissa Aronson (B-Woodmere, N.Y.) gave the Lions' home crowd a reminder of just how good of keeper she has been in her career, making an outstanding save on Natasha Lee's breakaway. Lee latched on to a clearance and outran two Columbia defenders, but her blast was stopped by Aronson leaping to her right.

Senior Eva Gudbjornsdottir created a nice chance for the Lions in the 25th minute. Gudbjornsdottir took a pass from Medal on the right wing and looked like she would cross into the box. Instead, she sent a long square ball across the top of the penalty box where Meghan Hurlbut blasted first time over the bar for a goalkick.

Aronson saved the Lions again with just eight minutes remaining in the first half. Lee got another breakaway, but Aronson charged off her line to block Lee's shot at her feet.

The second half turned into a hard defensive battle with both teams unable to create much space in the opposition's formation. Neither squad was able to score forcing overtime for the second consecutive Columbia home match.

The overtime period was not at all like the second half with both teams creating outstanding chances.

The Lions nearly won it as Hurlbut picked up a clearance charged through the Red Storm defense and unleashed a left footed shot. The shot sailed wide left as the sophomore defender was not able to continue her streak of three straight games with a goal.

Columbia survived a scare just a minute later as St. John's won a corner. Flaherty sent a ball into the box that no one was able to get a solid piece of. The scramble in the box included three shots by Red Storm attackers and three clearances off the line by Columbia defenders.

Shannon Munoz capitalized on the opportunity by finishing off the match in the 95th minute. In a finely worked goal, Rachel Biondolillo won a ball in the midfield and passed to Lindsey Knowles who flicked a pass with the side of her foot over the St. John's defense. Munoz ran onto the ball and shot to the left of St. John's keeper Jaime Beran. Beran got a hand on the ball, but could not prevent it from rolling just inside the far post. The goal was Munoz's eighth of the season and the second match in a week that she won with a golden goal.

The Lions will finish their regular season at Harvard on Saturday.