Men's Soccer Hosts #23 Brown in Ivy League Opener on Saturday
10/2/2009 11:15:00 AM | Men's Soccer
The Columbia men's soccer team will open Ivy League play on Saturday with a home match against No. 23 Brown at Columbia Soccer Stadium. The match, which is part of the 2009-10 Lions Den Student Rewards Program, will begin at 7 p.m. and is the second half of a doubleheader with the women's team. The first 100 students in attendance at both games will receive a free bandana, courtesy of Columbia Athletics.
Scouting the Bears
The lone undefeated team in the Ivy League, Brown enters the week with a 4-0-4 record and most recently drew with Boston University, 3-3, on Wednesday. The Bears have tied each of their last three opponents, as the previous weekend they traveled to California and came away with a pair of 1-1 draws against San Francisco and Santa Clara. Goalkeeper Paul Grandstrand has started all eight matches in net, while sophomore Austin Mandel leads the Bear offense with four goals.
Series History
Brown and Columbia have faced each other 48 times, with the Bears holding a 30-14-4 edge. The Lions are winless in their last 16 encounters but have played Brown tough over the past three years, falling by slim one-goal margins.
Columbia in Ivy League Openers
The match against Brown will mark the first against an Ivy League opponent this season for Columbia. Since 1960, the Lions have gone 24-21-4 in their first match against an Ivy League opponent.
Last Time vs. Brown
Then-first-year defender Ronnie Shaban scored the first goal of his career Lions fought back from a one-goal deficit in the second half, but ultimately fell to No. 24 Brown, 2-1, in the Ivy League opener for both teams on Oct. 4, 2008 at Stevenson Field.
Finishing With a Flourish
Over the past two games, Columbia has been a bit slow out of the gate but has picked up its play over the final 45 minutes and into overtime. The Lions have outshot their opponents (Bryant and Fordham) 20-4 in the second halves combined, and 3-1 in both the first and second overtime periods. Junior Bayo Adafin tallied the game-winner in the first overtime against Bryant, while Columbia settled for a tie against Fordham.
English Duo Ignites Offense
Against Fordham, senior James Prince and first-year Nick Scott teamed up for the team's lone goal. The younger of the two Englishmen lofted a perfect pass to Prince, who finished in the lower-left corner of goal to knot the contest at 1-1 in the 59th minute. Prince ranks second on the team with a pair of goals, while Scott has a goal and an assist on the year.
