Red-Hot Field Hockey Wins Its Sixth Straight To Reach The Program's Best-Ever Start

Upper West Side NY

22 September, 2021

5:30 PM

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Columbia Daily Spectator BY MILES SCHACHNER SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 Head coach Katie DeSandis has a name for when her team goes undefeated over a two-game weekend slate: She calls it a "double-dub" weekend, and so far, the field hockey team has not known anything else. The Lions (6-0, 0-0 Ivy) defeated Fairfield University (3-4) and Colgate University (0-5) to continue a blistering start to the season. The group's depth and versatility continued to shine over the weekend, as four different Lions scored goals and were backed up by staunch defensive play. With Sunday's win, the Light Blue achieved what no other Columbia field hockey team has done before, winning its sixth consecutive game and earning the best start in program history. The squad is thrilled to have stamped its name in Columbia's record books. "It feels fantastic. [We're] speechless," sophomore back Maya Walker said. "Especially after being off for a year, it's kind of like we used that to build and now we're back and better than ever." The Lions kept winning with the same blueprint that powered their first four wins: They raced to a lead early on and never gave it up. The team has not once trailed in one of its first six games this year. DeSandis credits this consistency to her team's thorough preparation. "We pretty much tell them, 'Hey, anything can happen in a game, there's gonna be ups, there's gonna be downs, it's how you respond,'" she said. "When we do go down, because it'll happen at some point this season, they're now prepared to respond because they've been practicing how they respond in those moments." Though Columbia began the season with a pair of commanding wins, outscoring opponents 12-2 through its first two games, the Lions were forced to play high-intensity minutes almost all weekend. Following a dramatic back-and-forth affair with Fairfield, the Light Blue claimed victory 2-1 on Friday. After first-year midfielder Sophie Rockefeller found the back of the net in the first quarter off a pass from senior midfielder Brooke Gasser, the Stags equalized the game 30 minutes later, connecting off of a penalty stroke. Almost immediately, the Lions responded. Senior forward Isabella Collins notched a goal off a rebound to put Columbia ahead for good. The triumph over Fairfield was another chapter in what is becoming a stellar season for Rockefeller, who has scored three times and ranks second among the team in points, trailing only senior midfielder Kelsey Farkas. On Sunday, the Light Blue's defense stole the show. The unit completed its first shutout of the season, limiting Colgate to only four shots on goal as the Lions won 2-0. Walker commended the effort of every position group. "We just knew we had to fight," she said. "Now our games are getting closer and closer, and that's going to be the tone for the rest of the season. And I think that you just saw everyone working, not just the backs and the goalies but also the mids and the forwards." The win was highlighted by an outstanding play in goal. As the Raiders earned penalty corners late into the fourth quarter, it looked as though they might finally break through Columbia's defense. When the Raiders' midfielder, Ella Murphy, smacked a shot toward the goal off a penalty corner, senior goalkeeper Alexa Conomikes dove to her right, making an acrobatic play with her stick to knock the ball away and defuse what was left of Colgate's offensive energy. It was her fourth save of the day and her sixth of the weekend, en route to earning the title of Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week. "They always say the anchor is in your back, whether it be a center back or your goalkeeper, but [Alexa] really is the heart and soul of the defense," DeSandis said. "She has a lot of seniority, has a lot of experience, and has a lot of composure back there. Plus, she has the athleticism to make diving saves with her stick that are just unreal." The squad was driven by a variety of goal-scorers in its win over Colgate, as first-year midfielder Lindsey Yu and junior forward Ellie Decker scored their second and third goals, respectively. Across their first six games, the Lions have outscored opponents 22-6, a mark that shows the potential of the roster when both its offensive and defensive units are clicking. The winning streak has also tied the program record for most consecutive victories, as the 2012 and 2014 teams also won six straight games. Columbia is one of only four teams in the country who remain undefeated—No. 1 Michigan, No. 2 Iowa, and No. 8 Penn State are the other unbeaten teams. The group's enthusiasm and drive have made the early success fun, Walker said. "Our team dynamic is unmatched. Because no matter what drill we're doing in practice, no matter how hard it is, it's still fun somehow," she reflected. "The way we work together, through thick and thin, [through] hard pressure, easy games, it's all been good. And we're going to keep rolling." Next, the Lions will take on their toughest challenge yet as they match up with No. 13 Harvard (5-1, 0-0 Ivy)—their first Ivy League opponent. The Crimson will visit the Baker Athletics Complex at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24. The game will also be televised on ESPN+. Deputy Sports Editor Miles Schachner can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @milesschachner. Founded in 1877, the Columbia Daily Spectator is the independent undergraduate newspaper of Columbia University, serving thousands of readers in Morningside Heights, West Harlem, and beyond. Read more at columbiaspectator.com and donate here.