Columbia’s Surprises and Let Downs

Two months ago, predictions said that the Columbia field hockey team would finish near the bottom of the Ivy League. Now, depending on how games around the league shake out, the Light Blue could claim a share of the league title by beating Harvard on Friday.

Seems like a strange reversal of fortunes, right?

Sure it does.

But for those who follow Columbia sports, this type of fortune reversal should seem almost common by now.

In the short M. Dianne Murphy era—on its fourth year and counting—athletic fortunes have most often been characterized by pleasant surprises and bitter disappointments. Each year, one or two teams with low expectations seem to make a dazzling run toward competitiveness (see football and women’s soccer in 2006). But each year, teams that have experienced a taste of success in the past often struggle to replicate past performances (see football and women’s soccer in 2007). The only exceptions to this phenomenon have been the cross country and fencing programs, which annually compete at the highest level.

Yearly bright spots such as the 2007 field hockey team bring hope that maybe, someday, other Columbia programs will rise up and become dominating players in the Ivy League. So in looking to the future, which Columbia teams have the best chance to join cross country and fencing as consistent, dominant programs? And which ones, sadly, have the best chance to join the volleyball program as annual Ivy cellar-dwellers?
On the Rise

Women’s Soccer. Despite the team’s 1-3-1 performance so far in the 2007 Ivy season, the women’s soccer team has the infrastructure in place to be a consistent threat in the Ivy League in the years to come. Head coach Kevin McCarthy, now in his 14th season, has been around forever, bringing stability and direction to the program. On the heels of an Ivy championship, he likely has found it much easier to lure talented recruits to Morningside. With a core group of capable freshmen and sophomore players in place, the women’s soccer program has the potential for success through at least 2009.
Field Hockey. And why not? The team, which played without a home field for much of the 2006 season, has been undefeated (7-0) this season playing on its new pitch, underscoring an important point: with proper facilities, teams have a much better opportunity for success. The departure of three key senior starters after this season will be a small setback for head coach Katie Beach and the program, but the presence of talented underclassmen will provide the foundation and opportunity for more success down the road.

Men’s Basketball. With a knack for recruiting, head coach Joe Jones has assembled a talented roster that spans all four classes. Entering his fifth season at the helm, Jones will finally be starting senior players who have played all four years under his guidance. Last season, the team finished with a 16-12 record (7-7 Ivy), its most wins since 1993. The team’s deep roster means the tools are in place for success in the 2007-08 season and beyond.

Rising? Not so fast.

Men’s Soccer. For a program that once dominated the Ivy League in the 1980s, the long decline of the men’s soccer team has been hard for the athletic administration to bear. In order to recreate the magic of the ’80s, nothing short of a miracle (or perhaps more lax recruiting policies) will be needed. This season, playing with a senior-laden lineup, the Lions have won only three games and none in Ivy League play, compiling a 3-9-1 record. After the current seniors graduate, the team is likely to face even rockier times.

Women’s Lacrosse. In women’s lacrosse, the Ivy League is one of the nation’s toughest conferences. This doesn’t bode well for a Columbia team that has only existed since 1995 and has had to start building a program from scratch while competing against the nation’s best. The Ivy teams in the top echelon of women’s lacrosse are just too good and too deep for Columbia to feasibly make a dramatic jump in the immediate future. A Light Blue Ivy title is decades away.

Baseball. In a perfect world, the new state-of-the-art FieldTurf baseball field would engender a rebirth of the once-proud baseball program, which includes such legends as Lou Gehrig. But that is unlikely to happen. A grueling, extended road trip at the beginning of each season does not help the team stay energized throughout the long season. And playing in a difficult league makes success hard to come by. The team has not finished with a winning record since 1989, and that streak is likely to continue into the foreseeable future.