Columbia
FORDHAM
Men's Soccer Battles to 1-1 Draw With Fordham
9/29/2009 9:45:00 PM | Men's Soccer
NEW YORK -- For the second consecutive match, the Columbia University men's soccer team rallied in the second half to force overtime. The Lions had numerous opportunities in the second half and overtimes following the equalizer but could not convert as they settled for a 1-1 draw against Fordham at Columbia Soccer Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Senior James Prince scored his second goal of the season in the 59th minute, and Columbia took charge over the final 65 minutes of play by outshooting the Rams 14-5, but could not quite close the deal.
"It takes a lot out of you to come back, it takes a lot of heart and determination," head men's soccer coach Kevin Anderson said. "We have enough volume in everything that we are doing -- we have volume in shots, in corner kicks, in restarts -- yet we lack the quality in those volumes."
Fordham got on the scoreboard first in the eighth minute, as the Rams capitalized on a free-kick chance. Marcus Axelsson was able to head down the free kick to Tim Richardson, who finished at the goal line to put the score at 1-0.
The Rams appeared to have a breakaway in the 19th minute, but sophomore Alexander Aurrichio came off his line and gathered the ball just in front of the Fordham attacker, preventing any shot attempt.
The Lions would have a pair of chances for the equalizer toward the end of the first half but couldn't capitalize. First-year Nick Scott took a free kick from the edge of the box but was denied by Fordham goalkeeper Ryan Meara in the 30th minute. Less than two minutes later, junior Bayo Adafin made a nice one-on-one move to beat his defender up the left wing and made a cross that missed the foot of Scott in front of the goal.
In the second half, as has become the case recently, Columbia picked up the pace of its play and was able to come through with the equalizing goal a little over 13 minutes into the half. Scott, who was a threat throughout with his pace on the left side, placed a ball over the head of a Fordham defender to Prince, who finished left corner to knot the score at 1-1.
Aurrichio would again prove his mettle in the 76th minute, as his diving stop on Richardson near post kept the game even at one apiece. The Dix Hills, N.Y., native would close with four stops on the night.
With time running down, the Lions took one last crack at closing the game out in regulation. Sophomore Francois Anderson rocketed a shot from 25 yards out with just 13 seconds remaining that sailed inches high of the crossbar, as the game went into extra time.
The first overtime period saw each team get off a shot on net in the first six minutes that was saved by the opposing goalkeeper. With two minutes left, sophomore Mike Mazzullo sent a shot far post that Meara was able to get his fingertips on and push past the touch line for a corner kick. Columbia was unable to get a shot off as a result of the corner, and the game moved to a second extra frame.
Fordham had a golden opportunity in the 105th minute for the game winner, but a shot from Alex Brunbauer went high from 18 yards out. The Lions had another chance two minutes later, but junior Hayden Johns fired a shot wide. Both teams battled to a stalemate the rest of the way.
Columbia will open Ivy League play on Saturday, Oct. 3 against No. 23 Brown. The contest, part of a doubleheader with the women's team, will begin at 7 p.m.
