Soccer breaks from Ivy play to face Lafayette

After dropping two straight matches, the Columbia men’s soccer team (4-7-1, 2-2 Ivy) proved that they still have the momentum and drive to win. The Lions upset No. 15 Dartmouth—currently tied with Brown for the top spot in the Ivy League—in an impressive 2-0 shutout this past weekend. Hoping to recreate Sunday’s scoring opportunities, the Lions face Lafayette today in Easton, Pa.

Last year when the Lions and Leopards met on the pitch, the Leopards held a distinct advantage on the field. Though the Light Blue was outshot only by a close margin of 15-11, the Leopards managed to net a total of four goals in the match, while only allowing one. The first tally came in the fourth minute when B.J. Glenn evaded the Columbia defense and drove a solid shot in between the goalkeeper’s legs. Sixteen minutes later, Shane Pruitt also pushed past the defense to net the another goal. Finally, after Lafayette’s early 2-0 advantage, the Lions defense buckled down and held the Leopards until they were able to score their first and only goal of the match. Former Lion Felipe Castrillon crossed the ball perfectly, which then-senior Scott Strickland headed in, cutting the Leopard’s lead in half. However, the staunch defensive effort was overcome and Lafayette scored two additional goals in the last 20 minutes of regulation time for a 4-1 win.

Currently, Lafayette holds a 8-5-2 record, most recently tying Cornell 0-0 on Oct. 20 and beating Army 2-0 on Sunday. Though in the Ivy League Cornell is currently in last place with a 0-2-2 Ivy record, the Leopards tied the game after dropping all three previous games.

The Lions fought back from a two game losing streak to win Sunday’s thriller against Dartmouth. Both Columbia and Lafayette have encountered problems finding the back of the net in their matches, but each is gathering momentum and regaining their confidence coming into this game.
The Lions face the Leopards on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. in Easton, Pa.