Men's Soccer Takes On Yale This Saturday
10/30/2014 3:28:00 PM | Men's Soccer
NEW YORK – After an overtime defeat last time out, the Columbia men's soccer team looks to bounce back on the road this Saturday, against Yale. The Lions, who currently sit at 5-6-1 (1-2-1 Ivy League), will have a 7 p.m. start against struggling Yale team, who comes in at 1-10-3 (0-3-1).
Last Time Out
Columbia had its chances, but was unable to find the net after 90 minutes against Dartmouth, who was also kept off of the scoreboard. Four minutes into the first overtime period, the Big Green drew a corner kick that was headed in over goalie Kyle Jackson to give Dartmouth a 1-0 Ivy League win.
The loss for Columbia was the second one in conference play this season. Dartmouth sits at the top of the Ivy League standings at 3-1, in a tightly contested conference race. Harvard, Princeton, and Penn all are half a game back at 2-1-1.
About the Bulldogs
Yale comes into the game winless in Ivy League play at 0-3-1, and have gone 1-2-1 over the last three games. The Bulldogs have had plenty of time on the field in these games, as three of these four matches have gone to double overtime. The only win of the season for Yale came on Oct. 14 against Temple, knocking off the Owls, 1-0, in a home contest. The following outing for the Bulldogs was a 1-0 loss on the road at Cornell on Oct. 18, before a draw with Penn on Oct. 25, 1-1.
Through 13 games, Yale has scored a mere six goals, while giving up 17. Blake Brown has started eight games at goalie, saving 34 shots, while allowing 11 goals for a GAA of 1.22. Both Brown and Ryan Simpson, who has started five games, have earned one shutout this season.
All-Time Series
The Lions own a 25-31-8 record against Yale, in a series dating back to 1907. Last year, the teams ended a shootout in a 3-3 draw at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium. In five meetings with the Bulldogs, Kevin Anderson has a 1-1-3 career record, which includes a 1-0 win in 2011.
A Win Would Mean
Columbia looks to stay in the race for an Ivy League title, and will need a win to do so. With a victory, Columbia would improve to 6-6-1 (2-2-1 Ivy League) with two conference games left to play.
| Team | Points | Conf. W-L-T | Overall W-L-T |
| Dartmouth | 9 | 3-1-0 | 9-4-1 |
| Harvard | 7 | 2-1-1 | 9-4-1 |
| Princeton | 7 | 2-1-1 | 7-3-3 |
| Penn | 7 | 2-1-1 | 6-7-1 |
| Cornell | 6 | 2-2-0 | 9-4-1 |
| Columbia | 4 | 1-2-1 | 5-6-1 |
| Brown | 4 | 1-2-1 | 4-5-5 |
| Yale | 1 | 0-3-1 | 1-10-3 |
Scoring By Committee
Nine total players have tallied a goal this season, while five different players have recorded an assist. Francisco Agrest leads the team, scoring eight points from three goals and two assists. Rhys Williams is right behind Agrest with seven points from three goals and one assist. Frederick Elliot has two goals on the season, while Andrew Tinari, Arthur Bosua, Nicholas Pappacena, Ron Zori, Jack Gagné, and Jack Blattman all have one. Antonio Matarazzo leads the team with three assists.
Defensive Prowess
Although defensive statistics are tough to measure on the pitch, the back line for the Lions may be the best in the Ivy League. Columbia has allowed the second fewest shots in the conference with 129, trailing Dartmouth, who has surrendered 116. Not to be overlooked, Columbia makes it tough when the opposition is able to get a shot off. Of these 129 attempts, Columbia has allowed only 48 shots on goal, which is the fewest among the Ancient Eight.
By comparison, Yale is last in shots against with 202, and is seventh in shots on goal against, with 78.
| Team | Opponent shots on goal | Opponent total shots |
| Columbia | 48 | 129 |
| Dartmouth | 52 | 116 |
| Cornell | 55 | 171 |
| Harvard | 59 | 151 |
| Brown | 63 | 161 |
| Princeton | 72 | 152 |
| Yale | 78 | 202 |
| Penn | 93 | 193 |
Top Drawer Rankings
Top Drawer Soccer recently ranked its list of Top 20 soccer players from each collegiate conference. Three Lions were mentioned in the Ivy League rankings, as defender David Westlake came in at No. 13, the midfielder Matarazzo was ranked at No. 16, and another midfielder, Tinari, held down the No. 19 spot. The complete list can be found here.
Looking Ahead
After the Yale match, Columbia will have three contests left in the 2014 campaign. The Lions will hit the road on Tuesday, Nov. 4 for a non-conference game at 7 p.m. with Sacred Heart. The following weekend, Columbia takes on Harvard at 7 p.m. in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The final outing in 2014 will come on Saturday, Nov. 15, when Cornell comes to Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium for a 4 p.m. game.
Watch And Follow
Fans wanting to check out the action will be able to do so on the Ivy League Digital Network. To follow the live stats, click here.
