Men's Soccer Concludes 2009 Campaign at Cornell on Saturday
11/12/2009 10:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
NEW YORK -- The Columbia University men's soccer team travels to Ithaca, N.Y. this weekend to close out the 2009 campaign against Cornell. The Lions enter the match with a 2-4 record in the Ivy League, while the Big Red stands at 0-3-3.
LAST TIME OUT
Sophomore co-captain Mike Mazzullo
tallied his first goal of the season on a header in the 66th minute to
give the Columbia men's soccer team a 1-0 lead in the second half over
Harvard. But the 12th-ranked Crimson scored the equalizer in the 79th
minute and struck again five minutes into overtime to end the Lions
upset bid, 2-1, on Senior Day at Columbia Soccer Stadium.
SERIES HISTORY
Columbia holds a 25-18-6 edge in the series, and has a 4-1-2 record over the last seven seasons.
LAST SEASON vs. CORNELL
A goal in each half and a stauch defensive effort lifted Columbia to a 2-0 victory over Cornell in the season finale for both teams. Played around sporadic downpours
at Columbia Soccer Stadium, the Lions pressured Cornell early in the
match, ultimately outshooting the Big Red 10-2 in the first 45 minutes. Bayo Adafin and Peppe Carotenuto had the goals for Columbia.
SCOUTING THE BIG RED
Although the team hasn't registered a victory in conference play all season, Cornell has tied three of its opponents and has dropped one-goal decisions in two of the three losses. One of the draws for the Big Red came against Ivy League leader Harvard, 1-1, on Oct. 10. On the season, senior Matt Bouraee leads the team with 14 points on
four goals and six assists, sharing the team lead in goals with
sophomore Chase Aaronson and in assists with Scott Caldwell.
ABOUT THE LIONS
Junior forward Bayo Adafin leads the Lions offensively with six goals and 13 points. The Minnesota native has led Columbia in goals in each of the last two seasons. Senior James Prince ranks second on the team in goals (3), assists (2) and points (8). Defensively, sophomore Alexander Aurrichio has been solid in goal all year as his 68 saves ranks first in the Ivy League. A victory over Cornell on Saturday would give the Lions their best Ivy League record in a season since 2003.
