Field hockey ends season with OT win over Crimson

Columbia’s field hockey team could not have asked for a better end to the season. For the third year in a row, the women finished with an overall winning record after Friday’s 2-1 victory over Harvard in overtime. The win also marked an additional success for the team’s six seniors, as they are now the most victorious class in program history.

The game began with the Light Blue taking the lead as sophomore Maggie O’Connor sunk a shot into the goal just 3:02 into the game. Senior Jane Gartland was credited with the assist, her second of the season, having taken possession of a loose ball before passing it off to O’Connor.

Columbia was able to keep the lead for the rest of the first half. Though Harvard did not score in the half, they still forced goalkeeper Erin Conway to stay alert. In the 10th minute of the game, the Crimson tried to sneak one past her to even the score, but Conway held strong and made the critical save.

Much to the Lions’ dismay, just 2:34 into the second half, Harvard attacked the net again and this time got the best of Conway. Georgia McGillivray was able to score off a corner with assists from Allie Kimmel and Kristin Bannon.

Driven to regain the lead, the Lions continued to attack the Crimson defense in the second half. While Conway made one save in the second half, Harvard’s Cynthia Tassopoulos had to block five shots on goal to keep Columbia from jumping ahead once more.

Despite many chances, the Lions were unable to deliver the final blow before regulation time expired, and the teams headed into overtime. After a few minutes of back and forth, Columbia finally got the chance it had been waiting for. Senior Christine Buszczak took a corner and found junior Hannah Smith, who passed the ball from the top of the corner to junior Julia Garrison. Garrison bested Tassopoulos and put away the Crimson for good.

Buszczak’s assist was the 21st of her career, and with it she tied the program record.

The 2-1 victory marked the ninth win of the season for the Lions, giving them a 9-8 overall mark—their third season in a row with a record above .500. The win also propelled them to a 3-4 record in the Ancient Eight. Next season, as the Light Blue strives to make it four years in a row on the plus side of the schedule, they will be without the help of Buszczak, Gartland, and fellow seniors Hannah Biddle, Kaitlyn Busler, Catherine Campbell, and Julie Hatchett, whose experience and dedication will be sorely missed.