Physical and emotional purging after Homecoming disappointment

It was a heartbreaking Homecoming weekend for the Lions as team after team fell to Dartmouth by the slimmest of margins, often watching leads disappear. For those 11,127  fans that survived their pre-games and made it into Wein Stadium (not just to the tailgate), probably covered in beer and runny face paint, it was a crushing and frustrating experience to watch the Lions lose yet another fourth quarter lead after coming so close to breaking the Homecoming dry spell. It wasn’t all bad news this weekend, though. Senior Volleyball star Meghan Gaughn made history by becoming to first Columbia volleyball player to tally 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career. Do you think she can throw a football? 

Get caught up on this week’s CU sports news and results below, including an exciting 5-set volleyball victory over Cornell. 

Volleyball (9-8, 4-4 Ivy League):

Results:

Cornell 3-2 (W)

Overview: On Saturday, the Lions took down Cornell for the second time this season in a hotly contested 5-set match. In the first set, the Lions led by as many as five, but couldn’t shake the Big Red until the very end, scoring three unanswered points after being tied 22-22. The second set looked much like the first, with a number of ties and back-and-forth action. Senior Meghan Gaughn, who became the first Columbia volleyball player in program history to reach 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs, tallied three consecutive kills to put the Lions ahead 20-17 and on their way to closing out the second set. In the third set, it was Cornell who was able to break a late tie and close out the set, 25-21, and likewise took the fourth set after, 25-23. The forced fifth set was about as close as they get, with the Lions chasing from behind to take the lead for the first time at 16-15. In a fittingly heroic fashion, Gaughn secured the victory for the Lions with two kills, ending the set at 18-16.

With the win, the Lions move to 4-4 in the Ivy League and stand in 5th place.

Up Next: The Lions continue their stretch of road games, facing Yale on Saturday in New Haven before heading to Providence to take on Brown on Sunday.

Football (1-5, 0-3 Ivy League):

Results:

Dartmouth 21-16 (L)

Overview: In a packed Wein Stadium of over 11,000 fans, the Lions took on Dartmouth, and once again saw a fourth quarter lead disappear in this heartbreaking Homecoming game. The much-anticipated game started slow, with neither team getting on the board in the first quarter. In the second, Dartmouth utilized their strong running game to push into Lion territory and score on a one-yard touchdown run with 12 minutes on the clock. The Lions responded on the next drive, when quarterback Sean Brackett found Connor Nelligan for a 41-yard completion, paving the way for Luke Eddy to hit a 25-yard field goal. As the clock wound down in the first half, the Lions struck again on a 7-play, 47 yard drive that culminated with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Chris Connors, putting the Lions ahead 10-7 going into halftime. Columbia held onto the lead for most of the quarter with strong defensive play including a field goal block, but Big Green struck again with a 67-yard touchdown pass with less than two minutes left in the quarter. Down 14-10, the Lions stepped up their rushing game late in the fourth quarter as junior Marcorus Garrett ran 14 yards down the middle of the field to put the Lions ahead by two (Eddy missed the extra point) and reenergize the crowd. Then, Dartmouth began a drive from their own 9-yard line, quickly charging their way into Lion territory and covering 87 yards to put them on the Columbia 4, with the help of a roughing the passer penalty. The Big Green QB found a receiver wide open on the right side for a touchdown, taking the lead 21-16. In their final drive of the game, the Lions were unable to get to the end zone, after Brackett was sacked and threw a pick to put the proverbial nail in the Lions’ coffin.

Now 0-3 in the Ivy League, the Lions stand in 8th place.

 Up Next: The Lions look for their first Ivy League win of the season against Yale at home on Saturday at 12:30 pm.

 Women’s Soccer (6-8, 2-3 Ivy League):

Results:

Dartmouth 0-1 (L)

Overview: Before the dust had settled from Football’s disappointing Homecoming loss, the Women’s Soccer team began their own match-up with Dartmouth just a few hundred yards away at the soccer stadium. In the first half, neither side was able to find the back of the net, despite a number of opportunities. As the half came to a close, Dartmouth had the slight edge in shots, leading the Lions, nine to six. The second half began evenly like the first, but the game slowly began to open up and the Lions had trouble keeping the Big Green offense at bay. Twenty minutes into the half, Dartmouth got on the board when a midfielder’s shot was blocked and then rebounded for the goal. The Lions had one solid chance to equalize late in the half with a header form junior Colleen Rizzo, but the shot was saved and Dartmouth went on to win, 1-0.

With the loss, the Lions fall to 2-3 in the Ivy League and currently stand in 5th place.

Up Next:  The Lions look for redemption next weekend as they take on Yale in New Haven on Saturday.

Men’s Soccer (3-7-3, 1-2-1 Ivy League):

Results:

Dartmouth 1-2 (L)

Overview: Closing out a long day of athletic contests at Baker, Men’s Soccer faced Dartmouth in an important Ivy League match. The Lions had no time to settle into the game as the Big Green came out firing, penetrating deep into Columbia territory with a number of runs early on. Only seven minutes in, a Dartmouth midfielder played a through ball to a streaking striker, who slotted to ball passed the Columbia keeper for 1-0 advantage. Then six minutes later, Dartmouth struck again, this time on a corner kick that Columbia was unable to clear, putting the Lions in an early 0-2 hole. Columbia settled in late in the half and started to put together some chances, but still only recorded three shots before the break. In the second half, the Lions came out strong, posting early shots and creating opportunities. Off a corner kick, senior Brendan O’Hearn sent a lobbing header towards goal, beating the keeper, but the ball struck the post and was cleared away from net. The Lions finally got on the board in the 81st minute when a Dartmouth defender tried to clear a long throw-in with his head, but instead sent the ball flying behind him and into his own net. Despite some late chances, the Lions were unable to score a goal of their own, falling 1-2.

With the loss, the Lions move to 1-2-1 in the Ivy League and are tied for 5th with Yale.

Up Next: The Lions head to New Haven for an Ivy League match-up against Yale on Saturday.

Field Hockey (8-6, 3-2 Ivy League):

Results:

Dartmouth 2-5 (L)

Overview:  The Field Hockey team fell to Dartmouth today, ending a tough weekend for the Lions against the Big Green. In the first half, Columbia was quick to get on the board with a goal less than two minutes into the game. Paige Simmons scored off a penalty corner for the Lions from the top of the circle. Just a few minutes later, however, Dartmouth equalized and then added another score over the shoulder of Lions keeper Christie O’Hara to put them up 2-1. The Lions struck back late in the half, again off a corner to Simmons, drawing them equal with the Big Green going into the break. After an even first half, Dartmouth came out firing in the second, tallying three unanswered goals and handing the Lions their second Ivy League loss, despite a career high 15 saves by O’Hara.

Now 3-2, the Lions stand tied for third in the Ivy League with Cornell.

Up Next: Field Hockey heads to New Haven for an Ivy League showdown with Yale on Saturday at noon.