The women's soccer team (3-5-0, 1-1-0 Ivy League) bounced back from an opening loss in league play this weekend, pulling out a 1-0 victory over the Columbia Lions in New York.
Joyce Chun '11 scored the decisive goal once again, marking the second time in the last three games she has notched a game-winner late in the second half. Chun capitalized on a through ball played by Gina Walker '11 in the 81st minute, and tucked the ball into the back of the net before Lions goalie Lillian Klein could come off her line.
Chun said she did not want to take too much credit for her recent goal-scoring streak, attributing her success to the overall effort of her teammates.
"My opportunities to score were a result of the team's collaborative effort to stay positive and work hard in each game," Chun said. "My goals were just rewards that enabled us to reflect our hard work with wins on the scoreboard."
The Bears also received an outstanding performance from goalie Steffi Yellin '10, who earned the shutout with two saves off nine shots faced overall. The Lions ratcheted up their offense in the second half — taking six shots to Brown's three — but Yellin was up to the challenge.
In the 57th minute, Yellin made a diving save off a shot from Columbia midfielder Ashley Mistele. Later on, in the tense final minutes following Chun's goal, Yellin came up big once more. She dove to her left and blocked Lauren Cooke's blistering free kick to preserve the victory for the Bears.
"Steffi played really well," said defender Sylvia Stone '11. "Columbia plays a lot of direct soccer, a lot of long balls over the defense, and Steffi isn't afraid to come off the line at all."
The Bears will look to build on this conference victory in their two scheduled games this week. They face Maine (4-4-2) in an away game tonight and come back to the friendly confines of Stevenson Field on Saturday to face Princeton (4-6-1, 0-2-0).
Time will tell if the Bears continue their climb up the Ivy League standings, but players agree that the win against Columbia was an excellent start.
"This definitely puts us back in the run for the Ivy (Championship)," Stone said. "It's definite motivation for us to keep winning."
"Last season we had a couple of opening losses which hurt us," she added. "This year, we're hoping to start winning in the beginning and keep going until the end."
Chun agreed.
"Each Ivy League game is a 50/50 battle, but this team is probably the most talented team I've been on since my three years here at Brown," she said. "I truly believe we have a shot at winning this year."
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