Lions Visit Johnson Field Wednesday Afternoon :: String of Three Home Games in Eight Days Starts with Columbia

April 11, 2006

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Yale starts a stretch of three home games in eight days by taking on Columbia Wednesday afternoon (3 p.m.) at Johnson Field. The Bulldogs, 9-0 all-time against the Lions, are seeking their second Ivy win of the season.

Columbia (5-6, 0-5 Ivy) is coming off a frustrating 10-9 loss at Brown, the third time in the last three years that the Lions have lost to the Bears by a goal in the final minute. The Lions have been a part of the Ivy League since 1998 but did not pick up their first league win until last year, besting Harvard 11-9. Yale (6-6, 1-3 Ivy) has outscored them 154-41 all-time.

Kate Lombard leads Columbia in goals with 23 and points with 27. She is ninth in the league in points per game (2.09). Lombard also has caused 15 turnovers in 11 games, the fifth-best total in the league. In goal, Marcela Calidonio has a 12.37 goals-against average and .460 save percentage in 10 games, including six starts.

The Bulldogs' offense has a chance to break out against Columbia, whose 11.80 goals-against average is the second-highest in the league. Sophomore midfielder Lauren Taylor (Manhasset, N.Y.) leads the Ancient Eight in goals with 35, 12 more than any other player. Sophomore midfielder Kat Peetz (Spring Lake, N.J.) has at least one point in every game this season, and at least two points in each of the last seven games.

Columbia's offense averages 9.82 goals per game, a shade above Yale's 9.75, but defense has been a strong suit for the Bulldogs. Sophomore goalkeeper Ellen Cameron (Monkton, Md.) has been impressive of late, posting a 5.50 goals-against average and .607 save percentage over two games last week. She allowed only three goals while making seven saves in the Bulldogs' 12-3 win over Holy Cross last Wednesday. Junior Casey Littlefield (Acton, Mass.) and senior Lonnie Sarnell (Short Hills, N.J.) have also seen time in goal for Yale.

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report by Sam Rubin '95 (sam.rubin@yale.edu), Yale Sports Publicity