Columbia Rallies for First Victory
from press release
NEW YORK - The Columbia lacrosse used an
eight-goal second half to defeat Iona 12-8 for its first win of the
season on Friday, March 11. Taylor Gattinella and Olivia Mann
combined for eight of the Lions' 12 goals as the team improves to
1-2 this season.
The Gaels jumped out to an early 4-1 lead 13 minutes into the game
after Gattinella put Columbia on the board with an unassisted tally
8:07 into the half.
Following an Iona goal at the 17:14 mark, the Lions went on a
three-goal run to cut their deficit to one over the next four
minutes. Mann received a feed from her classmate Kacie
Johnson, and 30 seconds later connected with Paige Cuscovitch to
make it 4-3. Kelly Buechel got her first goal of the season when
she finished on an eight-meter attempt to even the score to 4-4
with 12:55 to go in the first half.
The remainder of the period was a defensive battle, as Iona managed
the only goal in the final 13 minutes of action to take a slim 5-4
lead into halftime.
After the break, the Lions came out roaring and went on a four-goal
run. Mann got things started when she beat Iona's goalie off
a feed from Buechel to once again tie the game. The Lions won
the ensuing draw control and Camille Richardson found Gattinella to
give the Lions their first lead of the game.
Columbia's offense continued to attack the opposing team as
Gabrielle Geronimos had a hand in the next two goals. The
senior finished on a pass by Emily Kager, and then set up
Gattinella on the next goal to make it 8-5 with 20:20 to play.
A pair of goals by Iona pulled them within one with just under 16
minutes on the clock, but that was as close as the Gaels would
get. The Lions scored four of the final five goals of the
game, including a pair of free position goals by Geronimos and
Johnson.
Gattinella had a monstrous all-around game after finishing with
four goals, an assist, five draw controls and three ground balls.
Mann had four goals, Geronimos and Johnson finished with three
points each, and Karlee Blank made five of her seven saves in the
second half.
For the game, Columbia had just six turnovers, including only one
in the first half. The Lions outshot the Gaels 26-16 and held
a 14-8 advantage in draw controls.
Columbia (1-2, 0-1 Ivy League) returns to action on Sunday, March
13 when it hosts Cornell at Robert K. Kraft Field at 1 p.m.
