The Stony Brook Seawolves (5-6) suffered a tough loss to the Columbia Lions (4-2-1) as they were shut out 4-0 on Sunday, Sept. 21.

“We need to stop Sophie Reiser, she is the catalyst of their team,” Seawolves coach Sue Ryan said before the game.

Ryan’s statement was proven true as the Lions’ forward contributed to three of the four goals, scoring two goals and adding an assist in the Lions victory. From the opening whistle the Lions were on the attack, controlling the ball for the first five minutes of the first half, but a strong effort by the Seawolves defense kept the game scoreless early. In the 29th minute, Reiser broke through the Seawolves defense and scored on a three-on-one advantage with a solid strike into the back of the net.

Forward Trine Allenberg led the Seawolves back down the field immediately, but could not get her shot past the Lions’ goalkeeper, who pounced on the ball before it could roll into the goal. The Seawolves offense struggled to score a goal despite a strong effort led by Brooke Barbuto, who never gave up on the ball, even after being hit in the face, the forward remained in the game. With great defense by the Lions, the Seawolves did not convert on any of the four corner kick opportunities that they had in the half.

“They looked more athletic and had a lot of chances to score, but they just couldn’t get a break,” Lions fan Beverly Lewis said.

The Lions offense continued to push the ball into Seawolves territory with two more goals coming off of two corner kicks. The third Lions goal was scored when Reiser connected with Ashlin Yahr for a header at the front post.

The Seawolves went into the half trailing 3-0, but in the second half the Seawolves defense stepped up, holding the Lions to only one goal, which was scored by Reiser. Seawolves goalkeeper Marissa Viola made incredible plays in the goal, making it nearly impossible for the Lions to score.

Reiser had three early shots in the half, but the goalies made diving stops and even swatted the third shot off the crossbar and getting the crowd on their feet.

With the loss the Seawolves dropped below .500 on the season after losing a tough double overtime loss at Hofstra University just three days earlier. The Seawolves will look to turn it around and get back on the winning track, when they host Hartford this Sunday.