Light Blue Lacrosse Splits Weekend Match-ups to Keep Record at .500

The outcomes may have been drastically different, but Columbia lacrosse turned in two of its best efforts of the season this weekend.

Columbia lost to Brown 15-4 in a game that, at least for a half, was closer than the score indicated. Despite the margin, Friday’s loss was Columbia’s best Ivy League game of the year, and the team showed that it was undaunted on Sunday. The Lions clobbered Central Connecticut, 15-5, in a complete effort that evened the team’s record at 6-6 (0-5 Ivy).

The Lions have three games left in the season. To finish with a winning record, they will have to beat either No. 12 Yale or Harvard. Either victory would be the first Ivy win in the history of the program.

In Columbia lacrosse’s quest for that first Ivy League win, obstacles like Brown senior goalkeeper Nikki Caggiano always seem to pop up.

Caggiano was the difference for Brown in a fairly even first half. She faced eight Columbia shots and allowed just one goal, helping Brown to an 8-1 halftime lead on a frigid Friday night at Wien Stadium. The Bears won going away 15-4.

Brown’s game is speed, and the Bears won on Friday by creating chances with speed through the midfield. Still, in the first half, it looked as though Columbia would be able to hold its own. Just over 10 minutes into the game, sophomore Michelle Kraics’ second goal of the season cut Brown’s lead to 2-1. Kraics had two in the game to lead Columbia.

Brown would then score the next six goals.

But unlike Columbia’s four previous Ivy losses, the goals did not come in a single catastrophic run. Rather, the Lions and Bears traded possessions with each side getting opportunities at the net. Columbia’s came in settled offensive chances, where the Lions managed to get chances against Caggiano.

“We were able to make shots and set things up effectively,” junior attacker Liz Gilroy said, “We were upset that we didn’t finish those plays.”

Caggiano and her backup, junior Randi MacDonald, combined for 15 saves. “Our shots were the right timing, but where we put our shots wasn’t there,” Cunningham said.

The Bears created transition chances off saves and turnovers. And while the Lions could not beat Caggiano, Brown was able to push the ball past sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Valadez. Valadez finished with eight saves.

With the game largely decided, the second half, played as a blistering wind blew into Wien Stadium, was uneventful. The Lions scored first when sophomore midfielder Ellen Lowrey sprinted up the right sideline and tucked the ball inside Caggiano’s far post. But Brown buried the Light Blue, scoring the next four goals.

Despite the score, Cunningham said she saw positives in the effort, especially the hustle. The Lions fielded more ground balls and played an even half with a Bears team that was bigger and faster.

“I’m not disappointed with [our] effort.” Cunningham said after the Brown game.

But Sunday against Central Connecticut, the Lions came with an effort that anyone could be proud of. The Lions and Blue Devils traded goals to start the game, but Columbia then scored eight straight, making it 9-1 with just under 26 minutes to play.

“We played like it was 0-0 the whole time. We didn’t relax at all,” Gilroy said.

Gilroy had three assists in Sunday’s game to go along with her goal against Brown. Sophomore attacker Adie Moll led the team with three goals, while Ellen Lowrey had two goals and two assists.

“I think this is the best team effort that we’ve given,” Gilroy said. “Each player on our team gained a lot of confidence.”

So now comes the final push for the 2002 Lions. They have three games remaining and a chance to take the program to a place it has never been before. The next chance to get that first-ever Ivy win will be Wednesday at Yale.