Aug. 15, 2005
NEW YORK, N.Y. - The 2004 Columbia Lions were anchored by a quartet of seniors who had been vital members of the program since they arrived on campus four years before. The 2005 team is much younger with just one senior, but no less talented than last season's ECAC Championship squad. Boasting one of the Ivy League's top returning scorers and key members of a record-setting defense, the 2005 Columbia Lions and head coach Kevin McCarthy may be poised to have one of the best seasons in the program's history.
Despite the loss of tri-captain Erissa Aronson, the Lions will be very strong at goalkeeper. Sophomore Allison Vespa was the Ivy League's best first-year goalkeeper last season and has the potential to be an All-Ivy performer. A great shot blocker with a commanding presence in the box, Vespa netted seven wins her rookie season while posting a 1.09 goals-against average. Splitting time with Aronson, the New Jersey native recorded three shutouts and made 52 saves. She also saw the majority of action during the Lions' record-setting 465-minute shutout streak. Having led all Ivy League first-years in saves, goals-against average, shutouts and minutes played, Vespa has a chance to be one of the top keepers in the conference this season. Aiding her in netminding duties will be two first-years, SaraAnn Bennett and Rebecca Taylor. Bennett, an Ohioan, is a technically sound keeper with good athleticism. Taylor comes from the Lions' Massachusetts pipeline where she starred at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional. She is a talented shot-blocker with good club team experience.
Last season, the Lions' defense set a school record with five consecutive shutouts and allowed one goal or less 12 times. Led by Cathleen Cimino, Cassie Hamar, Meghan Hurlbut and the graduated Eva Gudbjonsdottir and Lauren Nussbaum, the backline was one of the Lions' strong points. Hurlbut, a junior tri-captain this season, earned honorable mention All-Ivy for her breakout season. She not only was a stalwart defender at left back, but also became one of the Lions' most influential attackers. A gifted left-footer, Hurlbut scored two outstanding free kick goals, netted another from open play and recorded an assist. Cimino earned All-Ivy honorable mention during her rookie season. A poised and confident central defender, she was a lynchpin in the Lions' record-setting defense the entire season. Hamar, a junior who has played in midfield as well, brought speed and hard-nosed play to right back last season to secure the Columbia flanks. She could also vie for time in midfield. Rena Kimura, a walk-on, provided essential minutes during the squad's injury crisis last season. Three talented first-years will be pushing for time as well. Drew Effler has tremendous experience from the soccer hotbed of Southern California. Tall with a great right foot, she has a chance to be an influential member of the squad during her rookie season. CiCi Northup, a skilled left-sided defender or midfielder, plays a similar game to Hurlbut as a tough tackling defender with the ability to go forward. Jessica Schott, who may also play in midfield, brings speed, size and versatility to the team.
With the loss of midfield standout Rachel Biondolillo, the Lions will have to find a new dynamic in their engine room, but with quality returning players and talented newcomers there are plenty of options. Juniors Emma Judkins and Bailey Schroeder both showed ability to break down opponents and begin attacking movements from their midfield positions. Judkins, who at the end of the season moved ably into central defense, is a strong player with good sense of positioning and timing. Not afraid to get forward, she showed a nose for the net last season by scoring a goal and assisting on four others. Schroeder, a powerful presence in the midfield, also scored a goal and assisted on four others last season. A hard-tackling central midfielder, she will be counted on to secure the middle of the pitch. Sophomore winger Lindsey Knowles brings an element of speed and skill to the midfield. Possessing pace and willing to work from box to box, Knowles provided service for the attackers while working well with left back Meghan Hurlbut. Sophomore Gudrun Finnsdottir also gained valuable experience last season, appearing in 18 matches and scoring a goal. An outside midfielder like Knowles, she has plenty of potential. Sophomore Elizabeth deBerardinis did not see action last season, but remains a bright prospect for the Lions with her speed and ODP experience. Columbia will also see some new faces in the midfield as newcomers Jillian Carroll, Jenny Brandt, Liz Dantzler, Jillian Raybould and Annie Geary will all get a look. Brandt, a local product from Scarsdale, is a versatile and well-rounded midfielder in the mold of former All-Ivy Lion Tara Davis `04C. Dantzler is an exciting two-way midfielder, whom the coaching staff believes was one of the top players in Florida last season. A junior, Geary comes to the squad with ODP experience.
The offense is led by second team All-Ivy and third team All-Region forward Shannon Munoz. The junior scored the third-most points in Columbia history last season, recording 29 on ten goals and nine assists. A dominant and tireless attacking player, Munoz is the second-highest scoring player returning in the Ivy League. She provides great service on set pieces and is a deadly finisher inside the box, as she proved with her three game-winning goals last season. A potential Ivy League Player of the Year, Munoz will be counted on to lead the Lions' attack. Munoz is joined up front by fellow captain Courtney Nasshorn. Nasshorn, the team's lone senior, has twice been an honorable mention All-Ivy performer. With 12 career goals and nearly 50 games during her career, Nasshorn is an accomplished scorer and a true leader. Junior Aubrey Medal saw time as a forward and as an attacking midfielder last season. A busy attacking player with two goals to her credit, Medal offers support and service for Munoz while posing a threat to score herself. Three recruits are poised to figure prominently in the Lions' attack as well. Jillian Carroll, Yasha Ibikunle and Allison Leonard are all very promising rookies who could have an immediate impact. Head coach Kevin McCarthy has described Carroll, who will also be considered for time in the midfield, as a "dynamic attacking player." Ibikunle will be one of the best athletes on the team as well as one of the most driven. Loaded with potential, she could be an exciting addition to the Lions' attack. Leonard has a tantalizing combination of power and pace along with strong finishing skills to give Columbia another intriguing option.
