Bulldogs Fall in Final Home Game

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Looking to keep pace at the top of the Ivy League field hockey standings, Columbia took an early lead on Yale on Saturday afternoon at Johnson Field and never looked back, topping the Bulldogs 4-0 behind a pair of goals from midfielder Christina Freibott. With the win, Columbia remains in a tie for first place with one game remaining.

Columbia (12-4, 5-1 Ivy League) scored twice on penalty corners in the first half (one by Freibott and one by midfielder Zoe Blake), taking a 2-0 lead into halftime even though shots were even at four apiece. The Lions then extended the lead to 3-0 on a goal by forward Katie Ruesterholtz, assisted by Freibott, at 39:45. Freibott, who entered the weekend leading the league in assists and points, then scored off a Ruesterholtz assist at 44:28 for the 4-0 final. Freibott also ended the day with the school single-season points record, as she is at 41.

Columbia's Kimberly Pianucci made seven saves for the shutout, keeping the Bulldogs off the scoreboard despite an 11-8 shot advantage and a 7-4 penalty corner advantage. The Lions have now won six straight.

This was the final home game for Yale's four seniors -- forward Jessie Accurso, back Megan Kirkham, forward Grace McInerney and goalie Heather Schlesier. All saw playing time on Saturday.

Columbia and Princeton are both 5-1 in the Ivy League after Princeton won at Cornell Saturday. Columbia has the tiebreaker on Princeton, so the Lions can clinch at least a share of the Ivy League title, and the league's automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament, with a win at Harvard next Saturday.

The Bulldogs conclude the season next Saturday at Brown.

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