Lafayette blanks CU soccer in nonconference match

Despite their 2-0 upset of League foe Dartmouth, the Columbia men’s soccer team fell in Monday’s nonconference match against Lafayette1-0. Though the Lions were able to hold the defense together for most of the match, the offense lacked the drive to net any goals. With this loss, the Lions fall to a record of 4-8-1 (2-2 Ivy). As the contest began, both teams fought for possession and scoring opportunities. Despite the Light Blue’s slight 4-3 advantage in shots, the Lions were unable to follow through in the final leg. As the first half neared to a close, freshman Will Stamatis drove a shot on goal, but the Leopards goalkeeper Graham Heydt made the save, keeping the game scoreless. In the second half of the match, the Leopards offense was able to breach the Light Blue defense, forcing goalkeeper Alexander Aurrichio to make save after save. Suddenly, in the 76th minute, a cross from Lafayette’s Eli Hajjar found B.J. Glenn in Columbia’s box.

Glenn deftly converted the shot into a goal, managing to evade Aurrichio and giving the Leopards a 1-0 lead that Columbia could not challenge. The Lions made multiple attempts in the remaining minutes of regulation but were unable to equalize the score, ultimately surrendering a hard fought 1-0 loss to the Leopards.

Unlike last year’s match against Lafayette, in which the Lions fell 4-1, the defense deflected the Leopards’ attempts and Aurrichio made a solid six saves. In the previous match, B.J. Glenn recorded the first tally for Lafayette in the fourth minute. However this year, the Light Blue presented a solid challenge for the Leopards. Yet, the Lions performed poorly offensively, were outshot 7-12, and forced only one save out of Heydt. This poor performance will have to improve to the standard of Sunday’s match against Dartmouth if the Lions hope to better their record this season.

The Lions resume Ivy League play on Sat., Oct, 31, with a match at home against Yale.