Maia Beltran’s second-half strike proves decisive as the Lions hand the Red Storm their second loss of the season at Cox Family Field.
Queens, N.Y.— Columbia University secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over St. John’s University in a defensive battle at Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium, with Maia Beltran’s 53rd-minute goal proving to be the difference in front of 364 spectators.
First Half Stalemate
The opening 45 minutes showcased Columbia’s tactical superiority, as the Lions controlled possession and created the better chances while St. John’s struggled to find their offensive rhythm.
Head Coach Ian Stone was brutally honest in his post-game assessment: “I felt that we kind of let them do what they wanted. I think we didn’t get tight enough defensively… And then offensively, I mean, we’ve gone through 90 minutes and not had a shot on goal. And we’ve got some really talented attacking players.”
Columbia registered four shots in the first half, including two on target that required saves from Red Storm goalkeeper Kayla Bower. The Lions’ best opportunity came in the 32nd minute when Maia Tabion forced Bower into her first save of the evening.
Beltran Breaks the Deadlock
The decisive moment arrived eight minutes into the second half when Columbia’s patient build-up play finally paid dividends. Lillie Hutchings provided the assist, setting up Beltran for a spectacular long-range strike that found the back of the net, giving the Lions a deserved lead.
The goal marked Beltran’s first of the season and capped off an impressive individual performance from the forward, who had been a constant threat throughout the match.
Red Storm’s Late Push Falls Short
Trailing for the first time in the match, St. John’s finally began to show attacking intent. Stone’s frustration was palpable: “It’s disappointing because I know we’re way better than that… We have to find a way to do some soul-searching and recognize that we can’t let teams come into our home field and just do that to us.”
St. John’s best opportunity to equalize came in the 76th minute from a free kick in the attacking third. Julia Lombardo delivered a dangerous cross from just beyond the midfield line, and after the ball bounced around in the penalty area, Janelle Sylvestre managed to get a foot on it. However, her line drive effort streaked just wide of the left post, leaving the Red Storm to rue what might have been.
Bower Keeps St. John’s in Contention
Despite the loss, goalkeeper Kayla Bower continued to impress. Stone praised her performance: “She’s getting better and better with every game. I just said to her, I thought she was outstanding today, but she has to now find a way to communicate with people more effectively so that they can kind of raise the level, raise their game to the level that she’s at.”
Bower made four saves to keep her team competitive, continuing her impressive early-season form as the reigning BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week.
Statistical Dominance
Columbia’s victory was built on territorial control, as the Lions outshot St. John’s 10-3 and registered five shots on target compared to the Red Storm’s zero. The visitors also dominated set pieces, earning six corner kicks to St. John’s three, while maintaining 54% possession throughout the match.
The disciplinary count remained relatively even, with Columbia committing 10 fouls to St. John’s seven. The Lions’ Maia Tabion received the match’s only yellow card in the 82nd minute.
Season Implications
The victory improves Columbia’s record to 1-4-0 overall as they continue their non-conference schedule before Ivy League play begins. For the Lions, this result provides a crucial confidence boost after a challenging start to the season.
St. John’s drops to 2-2-0 overall, suffering their second loss in four matches as they prepare for BIG EAST Conference play. The Red Storm will need to address their offensive struggles, having managed just three shots in 90 minutes against a Columbia side that had previously allowed significant scoring opportunities.
Looking Ahead
Stone remained determined despite the setback: “I just want to see a little bit more fight, competitiveness about us because just talent isn’t going to be enough in terms of winning games… We need to turn that around and pretty quickly.”
St. John’s will look to bounce back when they travel to face Monmouth on Sunday at 1 p.m. in West Long Branch, N.J. The Red Storm will be eager to rediscover its attacking form before conference play intensifies.
The match served as a reminder of the competitive balance in New York area collegiate soccer, with both teams showing the tactical discipline and defensive organization that characterizes modern college soccer at the highest level.
St. John’s News:
- St. John’s Stuns No. 5 Wake Forest with Gritty Road Draw
- St John’s Forwards Open Up Youngstown Early While Kayla Bower Stands Tall in Goal
- Freshman Guilherme Gomes Makes History with Four-Goal Performance in St. John’s 5-0 Rout of New Hampshire
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