Men's soccer defeats No. 6 UCSB in home opener, finishes seventh in Ancient Eight

The men’s soccer team finished its 2008 season seventh in the Ivy League with an overall record of 4-12-1 (2-5 Ivy). The team fought through a midseason slump, which culminated in a six game losing streak, to close out the season in a 2-0 shutout over Cornell at home.

Despite beginning their season with three losses on the road against nonconference opponents, the Lions defeated UC Santa Barbara, ranked No. 6 nationally, in their home opener on Sept. 14. Sophomore forward Bayo Adafin marked his first career hat trick, scoring off assists from senior Felipe Castrillon, freshman Francois Anderson, and even freshman goal keeper Alexander Aurrichio. The Lions’ defense held strong under the direction of senior captain James Pounder, as Aurrichio allowed only one goal in the 80th minute from the Gauchos.

After their triumph over UCSB and La Salle, the Lions dropped four consecutive matches, including a close 1-2 contest to No. 24 Brown. The team came back from the four game losing streak to take the lead and the win over No. 19 Penn. Senior Scott Strickland found the back of the net for the first time in his career, while Adafin added another tally for the Lions, securing a 2-0 lead. Though the Quakers consistently outshot the Lions, they managed only a single goal in the 84th minute, ending the game 2-1 for the Light Blue.

The Lions then dropped another six straight, including four to League opponents Dartmouth, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, leaving only one match left against Cornell. Adafin, the Lions’ leading scorer, netted one goal for the Light Blue in the first half while fellow sophomore Pepe Carotenuto added another. Aurrichio and the defense held fast to end the game in a 2-0 shutout, the second of the season for the Light Blue. After the season, Adafin was named to the all-Ivy League second team for his outstanding performance, while Carotenuto received an honorable mention.

While the Lions finished the season with two conference wins, the most since 2004, the team is losing four seniors, including Pounder, who held the defense together under intense pressure. Head coach Leo Chappel will also be leaving Columbia. He will be replaced by Kevin Anderson, a former assistant coach for the Lions who has played professionally in Major League Soccer. What Anderson can do with the team will be the question next season, which begins with an away game against Duke on Sept. 4.