Lions unable to snap four-game losing streak

The Columbia men’s soccer team faced both league opponent Yale and nonconference foe Adelphi in two close 2-1 losses over fall break. With the defeats, the team dropped to 4-10-1 (2-3-0 Ivy) and into a sixth-place tie with Yale in the league standings.

Returning to the field after a 1-0 loss to Lafayette last week, the team first squared off against the Bulldogs at home. The first goal came in the 21st minute as senior James Prince converted a shot from defender Ronnie Shaban into a goal to put the Lions on the board. Despite this early advantage, the Lions were soon overwhelmed by Yale’s Brad Rose.

Only ten minutes later, Jon Carlos crossed the ball, and Rose headed it in from five yards out for the equalizer. Four minutes later, Rose found another opportunity, taking the ball down the left side of the field and firing off a shot from 15 yards out that evaded Lions goalkeeper Alex Aurrichio. This tally gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead that they would not relinquish.

In the second half, the Light Blue offense came up with a high-pressure performance, recording 12 shots and forcing Bulldogs goalkeeper Travis Chulick to make seven saves. The Lions could not solve Chulick in the end and fell 2-1.

The squad took the field again yesterday in its last nonconference match of the season against Adelphi. The Lions and Panthers struggled for dominance in the first half as both recorded three and four shots respectively.

In the 55th minute, a Columbia shot hit the left post of the Panthers’ goal. Bayo Adafin was there in the box to sink the rebound into the upper left corner of the goal.

Soon after the Lions claimed this early lead, Brandon Stoneham came close to the Columbia goal, tapping the ball towards the goal. Aurrichio looked as though he had made the save, but fumbled instead and yielded the tying goal.

Less than ten minutes later, Johann Craan passed to teammate Issa Tall who dribbled around Aurrichio and buried a shot deep in the lower left corner of the goal, adding another tally for a 2-1 lead. Though the Lions outshot the Panthers 7-5 in the second half, they could not come up with another goal.

The Lions will play their last home game this Saturday against league leader Harvard.