Oct. 4, 2005
NEW YORK - First-year Liz Dantzler scored her first collegiate goal and Rebecca Taylor and Allison Vespa combined for the shutout as the Lions won their second straight with a 1-0 win over Sacred Heart.
The match was played in the middle third of the field for most of the first half, with Columbia (6-4-1) controlling much of the possession. Meghan Hurlbut (CC-McLean, Va.) had the best opportunity up to that point with a direct kick just outside the box in the 19th minute that was smothered by Pioneer keeper Ashley Mocarski. Sacred Heart had a few opportunities after the direct kick, but it was Columbia that finally broke through in the 39th minute, on its third corner of the half. Hurlbut sent a great ball into the box that found Dantzler's (CC-Winter Haven, Fla.) foot, who slotted it past the Pioneers' keeper for the 1-0 edge. Hurlbut now leads the Ivy League in assists with four.
The beginning of the second half was similar to the first half, with much of the action taking place in midfield. Sacred Heart (4-5) had its best chance of the match when it kept control of the ball after a corner in the 65th minute. However, Patricia Santangelo's shot was stopped just in front of the goal line and knocked away, preventing any further damage.
Columbia's defense was stifling the rest of the way, as Vespa (CC-Franklin Lakes, N.J.) stopped two shots in the half after Taylor (CC-Lincoln, Mass.) made one save in the first half to preserve Columbia's third shutout of the season.
The Lions will return to Ivy League play on Saturday, October 8 when they will take on Penn at 11 a.m., the first of a doubleheader at Columbia Soccer Stadium. The men's team will follow against Penn at 2:30 p.m.
