Lacrosse Splits First Games of 2008 Season

In its opening weekend, the Columbia women’s lacrosse team went 1-1. The Lions lost a hard-fought match at Monmouth on Friday, but regrouped to overtake Lafayette by 10 goals in their first home game of the year.

Columbia’s game against Monmouth was filled with action from the start. With 28:16 left in the first period, the Hawks drew first blood with a goal from freshman attacker Renae Hill. Senior midfielder Ashley Waldman was credited with the assist. Columbia junior Holly Glynn, an attacker, responded with a tally at the 27:13 mark to tie the score. After three ties and two lead changes, the score was 4-4 at halftime.

The second period was much like the first, with back-and-forth action that prevented either team from dominating the game. With 19:07 remaining, Monmouth held a two-goal lead for the first time, but the Lions cut the Hawks’ advantage back to one less than a minute later on a goal by freshman midfielder Gabrielle Geronimos. Monmouth was able to build its lead to 10-8 with 11:17 to play, but once again Geronimos answered, scoring her second goal of the day at the 6:14 mark. Neither team scored again, however, and Monmouth came away with the one-goal victory, 10-9.

The Lions’ second matchup of the weekend was nothing like the first, as Columbia blew the game open with eight unanswered goals. Three of those eight came from Glynn, who finished the game with a school record-tying seven tallies. Geronimos continued to shine on offense, contributing two goals for the Light Blue, while freshman midfielder Lizzie Lee scored her first goal at the college level. At halftime, the Lions led 12-4, and at game’s end the score was 19-9 in their favor.

“Our win was a big one, especially coming off of Friday’s loss,” said sophomore attacker Brittany Smith. “I think the team thought we should have won on Friday.”

The Light Blue competed this weekend without junior midfielder Rachael Ryan. Ryan, one of the team’s better players, tore her ACL last week, effectively ending her season.

“It’s a huge loss,” said sophomore attacker Frances Callaghan. “She’s a tank with a lot of heart and brings 100 percent to the field every day.”

Geronimos, however, has already proven herself to be a strong presence on the Lions’ roster and is expected to have a “big impact on attack,” according to Callaghan.
Columbia next faces Wagner at home on Thursday. The game starts at 3 p.m. and will be played at the Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium.