Coming off a tough road loss against SUNY Stony Brook on Friday evening, the Columbia men’s soccer team (1-2-1) mounted a great effort in one of their biggest challenges of the season. The Lions defeated the sixth-ranked team in the nation, UC Santa Barbara, 3-1 in their home opener on Sunday.
Before its momentous win, the Light Blue suffered a frustrating loss in Friday night’s game against Stony Brook. The Seawolves notched their lone goal early in the second half, and the Lions were unable to match them, eventually losing 1-0. Undeterred, they entered their second game of the weekend still hungry for a win.
“We took a hard loss on Friday—and it was disappointing—but we just bounced back. It was all about working hard and playing our game,” sophomore forward Bayo Adafin said. “It was a collective effort and a collective thought that we were going to come out and play our own field to try to get a result.”
Sunday’s victory marked the Light Blue’s first win of the season, highlighted by Adafin’s hat trick. Scoring all three goals for the Lions, Adafin led the team to victory, capitalizing on Santa Barbara’s mistakes.
In addition to a monumental offensive effort that brought two early goals and allowed the team a cushion for much of the game, the Lions also exhibited a staunch defense. Columbia definitively shut down Santa Barbara’s attempts to rally a comeback, allowing only one goal despite the Gauchos’ 22 shots, compared to the Lions’ seven.
“Toward the end, they were pressing and dumped the balls in our box, and we stayed together as a team, stayed connected, worked our way out, and got that third goal,” head coach Leo Chappel said.
Solid execution played a role for the Lions as they were able to capitalize when presented the opportunity. Conditioning also became a contributing factor in the 85-degree heat, as the team’s fitness level allowed it to maintain a consistent level of performance.
“We really didn’t change a thing. We played great Friday night,” Chappel said. “We moved the ball as good as I’ve seen a Columbia team move the ball since I’ve been here. We just didn’t have that bite in the final third. So I think our guys took that frustration and brought a little extra to this game. And in this heat, I think the better conditioned team definitely came out on top.”
Chappel, currently in his third year as head coach for the Lions, previously held an assistant coach position at UC Santa Barbara. Having helped recruit the Gauchos’ current seniors, Chappel has also overseen much of the development of the Lions’ squad and foresees a mounting trend in his team’s growth. With six freshmen and three sophomores starting the game, Chappel has high hopes for the future of his team.
“Recruiting [in the Ivy League] is a lot more difficult, but I’m recruiting against [UC Santa Barbara] all the time for the same players, but just selling a different experience,” Chappel said. “I honestly think it’s going to work out, and we can compete for a national title down the road.”
Following Sunday’s decisive victory, the Lions will hit the road to face La Salle on Wednesday evening looking for a second win.
“This [win] will be something to ride out and get us a lot of momentum going for the season, get us the confidence we need, and prove to the public and ourselves that we are an up and coming program. We want to respond to the expectations that the school, and everyone else around us, has put on us,” Adafin said.
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