Nov. 13, 2004
On her final touch after four years, 60 matches and countless practices in Columbia Blue, Rachel Biondolillo won the ECAC Tournament for the Columbia Lions with a Golden Goal in the 93rd minute at Baker Field. The Lions held off a tough and aggressive LIU Blackbirds team to capture the championships with the 2-1 victory. Meghan Hurlbut scored the first Columbia goal and Shannon Munoz, who collected two goals and two assists in the tournament, won Most Outstanding Player.
One day after defeating Niagara 3-0 in the semifinals, the Lions faced Long Island, who had beaten Fordham 2-1 to advance to the finals last night. With the Columbia grounds crew performing a minor miracle to get the field into playing condition, the two squads battled in a tough, clean and enthralling match.
The Blackbirds struck first after just two minutes with a quick attack that left Christine Gans alone on goal. Allison Andreano picked up a loose ball in middle field and sent a perfectly weighted pass down the right wing for Gans who had a step on the Columbia defense. With Lions keeper Erissa Aronson (B-Woodmere, N.Y.) charging off her line, Gans calmly fired past the senior captain with a low hard shot.
The Lions responded nine minutes later through a great free kick from Meghan Hurlbut (C-McLean, Va.). Aubrey Medal (C-Westlake, Calif.) won the kick with a nice run in the midfield. Hurlbut, who scored on an incredible free kick against Dartmouth, stepped up and blasted a high curling ball from 30 yards out just under the crossbar for her fourth goal of the season. The left-footed rocket from the All-Ivy honorable mention defender put the Lions back level where they would stay for the remained of the half.
LIU had the first good chance of the second half as Christine Gans picked up a cross with just one defender between her and the keeper. Lauren Nussbaum (C-Northridge, Calif.) blocked the first shot and Allison Vespa (C-Franklin Lakes, N.J.) on for her customary second half, saved Gans' second attempt. Vespa preserved the tie again in the 69th minute as she made a diving save of Erica Chong's point blank shot.
Though the Blackbirds controlled much of the second half out-shooting the Lions 10-1. Still, the Columbia defense proved up to the task rarely letting LIU through for good chances. Jackie McCormick proved a disruptive creative force in midfield for much of the game and Christine Gans continued to pour on the pressure.
With time running down and overtime eminent the Blackbirds nearly broke the Lions' hearts with a well-orchestrated goal. Allison Andreano sent a nice ball out wide to Selima Berisha who crossed into the box for Nicole Lopez. Lopez got a good foot on the ball, but Vespa was there again to block it point blank and send the match to overtime.
With four minutes gone in the overtime period Shannon Munoz (C-Coto de Caza, Calif.), who was named the tournament's MVP after the match, sent a high cross into the box for Biondolillo (C-Weston, Ma.). The tri-captain flicked the ball with the side of her foot off a Blackbird defender and into the net for the Golden Goal. Her Columbia career ended with in a mob inside the penalty box as the entire team rushed out to celebrate.
With the goal, seniors Biondolillo, Aronson, Nussbaum and the injured Eva Gudbjornsdottir were able to erase an ECAC Finals loss from three seasons ago and end their careers as champions. The Lions complete the season at 11-8-0 and as ECAC title holders.
