Last Place Lions Fumble at Cornell, Look to Final Matchup of the Season

A valiant effort by the men’s soccer team wasn’t enough at Ithaca as the Cornell Big Red scored five minutes into the second overtime to take the victory. The 3-2 overtime loss drops Columbia to 3-12-1 overall, 0-6-0 in the Ivy League.

Both teams came out firing on all cylinders Saturday, combining for 17 shots in the first half. The rapid flow of the game resulted in the Lions’ first chance in the 16th minute, when an attempt on goal from senior Chris Wales was cleared out from the goal line by a Cornell defender. The Big Red would have two solid opportunities of its own in the half, but both goalies were up to the task the rest of the way, and the teams left the pitch at halftime scoreless.

The clean sheet would not hold in the second half. Cornell midfielder Brian Kuritzky would notch the first score of the night four minutes in, faking out Lions keeper Michael Testa to slot the ball home near post. The Light Blue would respond less than six minutes later when sophomore midfielder Steven Keker booted home a Tom Davison feed for the tie.

The offensive flurry continued on both sides. The Lions tested Big Red keeper Scott Brody with three more opportunities on goal before Cornell took the lead again on a Matt Bouraee score in the 69th minute. Columbia kept pushing regardless and would equalize less than a minute later, again off a Keker strike.

The two goalkeepers held steady for the rest of the half and the duration of the first overtime. Kuritzky would strike again in the second extra period, however, as the Cornell senior found the back of the net with a direct free kick from 15 yards out, giving the Big Red the victory.

Keker had his best game of the season against Cornell, with his two goals his first of the season. Wales also showed top form after being out for much of the early season, with six shots during the match, including the near-goal in the 16th minute. The senior Davison continued to produce offensively, adding an assist on the night.

The Lions have one last opportunity for victory as they host the fifth-ranked Brown Bears at home next Saturday. Action begins at 7 p.m. at Columbia Soccer Stadium.