The Columbia field hockey team faces the tough task of trying to extend its win streak to four against undefeated Cornell this weekend. The Lions (3-2, 1-0 Ivy) will be aiming for their second conference win on Saturday against Big Red (6-0, 1-0 Ivy).
The Light Blue is fresh off a 5-2 victory over Fairfield. Senior forward Christie Buszczak led the Light Blue with three goals, while junior midfielder Julia
Garrison and senior forward Julie Hatchett each netted goals of their own.
This wasn’t just Columbia’s third consecutive victory—it was also its third victory of the season. Since dropping their opening games to Richmond and Bucknell, the Lions have been on a roll. Over the course of their three-game win streak, they have outscored their opponents 10-4 and outshot them 51-23.
Despite this momentum, Saturday’s game is still going to be a difficult one for the Lions. Cornell has yet to drop a game this season and it has outscored its opponents 18-5, while outshooting them 122-33.
The Big Red won its first conference matchup last weekend against Penn by a score of 3-2 (OT). Junior attacker Catie De Stio opened the scoring for Cornell by knocking in an unassisted goal just under ten minutes in. The score remained 1-0 until about four and a half minutes into the second half, when De Stio netted another unassisted goal.
Penn was able to come, though, scoring two goals of its own and forcing an overtime period. However, just 21 seconds into the extra period, De Stio scored her third unassisted goal of the night, completing the hat trick, and winning the game for Cornell.
De Stio was the Big Red’s hero once again on Sunday, when she broke the scoreless tie against Lehigh at 43:57. That was the only goal of the game, giving Cornell the 1-0 shutout win.
The Light Blue has lost to the Big Red for the past four seasons, but the contests in 2007 and 2008 were decided by just one goal.
Last season, in the 4-3 loss, three different Lions contributed with goals. Buszczak and current sophomore midfielder/forward Maggie O’Connor each scored, as well as Ariel Leon, who is no longer with the team.
Saturday’s game is scheduled for noon at Marsha Dodson Field in Ithaca, N.Y.
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