NEW YORK, N.Y. – Villanova stayed to its unbeaten ways to close out a three-game road swing to open the 2026 season, defeating Columbia 2-0 on Thursday night at Rocco B. Commisso Stadium.
The win also extends Villanova's (2-0-1) string of clean sheets to three straight on the year. Spanning this year and the previous campaign, the 'Cats have not allowed a goal in 367 minutes of action including a scoreless draw to end last season. Columbia (0-1-2) placed three of its 12 shots on frame Thursday night, but the Blue and White defense anchored by goalkeeper
Hannah Dickinson thwarted those chances.
"This is a very, very organized Columbia team," head coach
Samar Azem said. "They don't give up a lot goals. For us to come out and score two goals on them, we had an 11-day break and sometimes that can take you out of rhythm. I thought the team handled everything so well to come out on the road, to get three points, to get two goals. Very, very proud."
Villanova threatened by way of corner kicks early, earning four in the first 21 minutes of action. That fourth one put the 'Cats on the board in special fashion.
Gabby Koluch sent in the chance that found the head of Baker who got just enough air above a Lion defender from below the penalty spot. The ball easily sailed into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead and the senior's first career goal.
Columbia had a solid chance shortly after with Evelyn Javers making a dangerous run into the box to pick up a pass. She sent a one-timer that Dickinson made a sliding save on before Baker sent the ball out behind the net to keep Villanova's lead in place.
Villanova led in shots through the opening frame 7-5, 4-1 for shots on frame.
Morgan Kotch led all players with three chances early.
The 'Cats kept up the momentum early in the second half to double their lead.
A Blue and White throw in toward midfield saw Kotch evade a pair of Columbia defenders to send a great through pass to the top of the box to find a streaking
Avrie Nelsen. The sophomore picked up the open ball to get past both goalkeeper Samantha Mahoney and another defender and put the ball into a wide-open net from six yards out to make it 2-0 Villanova.
Meredith Palmer had an opportunity to extend it to a three-goal lead for Villanova in the 69
th minute when she booted a free kick from near the midfield circle. Her arching look was grabbed by a leaping Mahoney to keep the lead at two.
The Lions' offense applied pressure late down the stretch to call Dickinson and the Wildcat defense into action with two blocks and a pair of saves in the final six minutes of play. One of Columbia's best chances in that sequence came from Gabby Chan in the 88
th minute, punching a shot toward the net from the top of the penalty box that landed square in the grasp of Dickinson. Both Chan and Javers led Columbia with three shots attempts each.
The graduate netminder finished the day with three saves with another shutout on her ledger. She now has 16 career shutouts to her credit, needing just one more to tie with Lynn McHale at fourth on the program's career shutouts list. On the other end of the pitch, Mahoney needed to make five saves.
Kotch led Villanova with four of the team's 13 attempts. Nelsen landed both of her attempts on frame as the 'Cats paced the Lions in shots on goal, 7-3.
Villanova comes back to the Main Line on Sunday for its home opener against Iona. Kickoff from Higgins Soccer Complex is set for 4 p.m.
