Men's soccer falls to Columbia 3-0
The Columbia Lions brought a halt to the men's soccer team's three-game winning streak by shutting out the Big Green, 3-0, in New York on Saturday. The loss dropped the Big Green 's record to 2-4 in Ivy League play and 5-11 overall.
The Lions took advantage of a defensive lapse by the Big Green and scored two quick goals in the span of 55 seconds almost midway through the first half to give them the victory.
The first Columbia goal came 17:24 into the game on a crossing pass from Rikkid Dadson to forward Khoury Mullings, who knocked the ball by big Green goalkeeper Matt Nyman '99.
Columbia tacked on the second goal when the Lions Arman Rousta sent a long ball over the heads of the Big Green defenders where it was played by Dadason. Dadason then sent the ball over the head of Nyman for his second point of the minute giving the Lions a 2-0 lead.
The Big Green defense held the Lions in check following the lapse, forcing Nyman to make only two saves on the day. The offense managed four shots in the first half, but came up empty in the second half as the Big Green tried to rally. Replacement Lion goalkeeper Jake Kemeny only had to make one save.
"We just came out flat in the beginning of the game and it took the two quick goals by Columbia to wake us up," midfielder Gareth Jones '99 said. "We were on a streak, and it just didn't continue into yesterday's game. It's unfortunate but sometimes it just happens."
The Big Green will wrap up both their Ivy League and regular season schedule Saturday at Pennsylvania. A win would improve the Big Green's Ivy League record to 3-4
"We need to regroup so that we can play the best we can against Penn," Jones said. "The game is an Ivy League game and we are motivated to improve our ranking in the final standings of the Ivy League."
