Men’s soccer upsets Dartmouth in unexpected 2-0 victory

After two straight losses on the road, the Columbia men’s soccer team trounced No.15 Dartmouth to improve their record to 3-7-1 (2-2 Ivy). This defeat marked the end of the Big Green’s previously-unmarred 3-0 league record.

After a postponement due to rain, the two teams finally battled on the pitch Sunday afternoon. Despite a losing streak and scoring drought since Peppe Carotenuto’s free kick against Penn, the Lions entered the match with a recently unseen energy to control most of the first-half play. Both the Big Green and Light Blue had shots on goal in the first half, but Columbia’s Alexander Aurrichio and Dartmouth’s Sean Donovan put in solid performances in their respective goals to keep the game scoreless.

The first half saw the two teams battle for dominance, though neither team managed to score. The Lions were only able to find their offensive dynamic in the second half.

When the Lions returned to the field after the break, the offense took off on a major run in the 69th minute, as junior forward Bayo Adafin overtook a Dartmouth defender, eluded him, and drove a low shot into the right of the goal. Adafin’s tally gave the Light Blue a 1-0 advantage and marked his team-high fifth goal of the season.

Another opportunity presented itself in the 84th minute, as confusion in the Big Green box saw Adafin launch a perfect cross that freshman Nick Ayers converted into another goal, lighting up the scoreboard again for Columbia.

While the Big Green tried to turn the game around, recording five of their 10 shots in the final 20 minutes, Aurrichio kept the score 2-0 and sealed the victory for the Lions. Though Dartmouth forwards Maarten van Ess and Lucky Mkosana both attempted shots on the Light Blue goal, Aurrichio came out to save them for a total of nine saves.

The Lions were able to turn this game around thanks to Aurrichio’s stellar saves and the offense’s change in dynamic. While the offense had previously been able to cross the ball effectively or outmaneuver defenders, they could not convert these opportunities into goals. On Sunday, finally, their efforts paid off. Though the Light Blue was outshot by the Big Green 15-10, the team followed through on its offensive runs and worked cohesively in the box. Last year, both teams were almost equal in shots, but the Columbia defense allowed three goals—one by Mkosana and two assisted by van Ess.

The team will travel to Lafayette on Tuesday, Oct. 27, for a nonconference match at 7 p.m.