The Columbia Lions women's soccer squad opened its season at home, meeting St. John's in a tightly contested 0‑0 stalemate that left both coaches satisfied with the defensive work but eager for more attacking firepower.
A Defensive First Half
From the opening whistle the game settled into a cautious rhythm, with Columbia's Dema Elder, Evelyn Jevers and Helena Andrzejewski each testing St. John's keeper Kayla Bower with shots on goal. Bower responded with three solid saves, keeping the visitors at bay.
In the opening half, Columbia's goalkeeper Samantha Mahoney also earned two saves, the most notable coming in the 28th minute when she denied Nora Basile's attempt.
Second-Half Surge
The second half saw the Lions take control of possession, stringing together three consecutive attacks that forced Bower into further action. Nicole Kim's high strike at the 20‑minute mark marked the first clear offensive threat for Columbia.
Midway through the half, the team generated three straight shots on target, two of which required Bower's reflexes. The most promising chance arrived in the 88th minute when Andrzejewski's effort curled toward the top‑right corner, only to be denied by the keeper.
Set‑piece statistics highlighted Columbia's dominance in the air, as they earned five corners compared with St. John's single attempt, underscoring the pressure they applied in the final stages.
Looking Ahead
Despite the deadlock, the result leaves Columbia with a 0‑0‑2 record, while St. John's sits at 1‑2‑1. Both sides will now turn their attention to upcoming fixtures, with the Lions scheduled to host Villanova on Thursday, August 27 at Rocco B. Commisso Stadium, kickoff set for 6 p.m.