Columbia
Lafayette
Second Half Lafayette Goal Sinks Men's Soccer, 1-0
10/27/2009 8:45:00 PM | Men's Soccer
EASTON, Pa. -- Lafayette's B.J. Glenn found the back of the net in the 76th minute to break a scoreless deadlock and helped the Leopards defeat the Columbia University men's soccer team, 1-0, in a non-conference match on Tuesday evening. The Lions held the shot lead, 4-3, at halftime but the home squad took control with a 9-3 edge in the second stanza, including six on goal.
Columbia had its first opportunity with 13:07 remaining in the first half, as first-year Nick Scott sent a shot toward goal that went just wide. The Lions kept the pressure on and had three chances in the final four minutes of the period. Sophomore Francois Anderson took a header in the 42nd minute that went high before first-year Will Stamatis took his turn offensively.
With time running down in the first half, Stamatis had a go but was denied by Lafayette goalie Graham Heydt. Seconds later, senior Steve Keker took a corner and found Stamatis in the box, but his header went just high. The Lions were awarded another corner with less than 30 seconds left in the period but were unable to get a shot away.
The second half saw sophomore Alexander Aurrichio tested frequently and the 6-6 goalkeeper was up to the challenge in the early going. Aurrichio stonewalled Kyle Scharfenberg in the 63rd minute and began a counter-attack that resulted in a high shot from first-year Nick Ayers a minute later.
In the 70th minute, the Leopards' Josh Brown had a shot on frame that was stopped by Aurrichio. The Lion defense stood tall later as a shot by Eli Hajjar was blocked by a defender that resulted in a Lafayette corner kick.
The Leopards would take advantage of the set piece, as Hajjar found Glenn in front of the net for the go-ahead goal.
Columbia had a pair of chances for the equalizer, but senior James Prince's shot in the 76th minute went high and Scott's second attempt of the game with 2:29 remaining slid wide.
Aurrichio finished with six saves on the evening, while Scott and Stamatis had two shots apiece.
The Lions return to Ivy League action on Saturday, Oct. 31 as they take on Yale at Columbia Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
