NEW YORK – The Columbia men's soccer team won its 10th Ivy League title with a 4-0 victory over Cornell on Sunday.
The Lions improved to 13-3-1 overall with the win, and match Dartmouth's 5-1-1 conference record, as the two schools become Co-Ivy League Champions.
Arthur Bosua posted his first career a hat trick and John Denis added a score from Bosua, while Dylan Castanheira put up his seventh shutout of the season, as he improves to 9-1.
"This group of guys has worked hard," said head coach Kevin Anderson. "This isn't a one year journey, this is a long journey. Credit to them. Key moments from key guys, making changes, and having guys to bring off the bench that are committed to the journey is a privilege for a coach to have."
Columbia needed a victory in order to clinch at least a share of the conference title, and came out of the gates swinging. In just the fifth minute of the match, Amit Shumowitz sent a cross in towards Bosua, who knocked a header to the right post that bounced in to make the game 1-0.
The Lions had more chances to add on to the lead in the first, with a total of eight corner kicks tallied, but went into the half holding just the one score lead.
In the 56th minute, Rhys Williams broke free and sent another cross towards Bosua, as the junior headed home another shot to make the score 2-0.
Just 38 seconds after the second score of the game, Bosua was able to find John Denis, who had some nifty dribbling to get free from the top corner of the box and fired an impressive laser that slid just under the cross bar to give the Lions a 3-0 lead on his fourth goal of the season.
Both Columbia and Bosua wanted more, and were able to get just that. In the 67th minute, Francisco Agrest streaked on the left side, sending a low cross again to Bosua, who tapped it in for his third goal of the match, and eighth of the season.
With a 4-0 lead in tact, the Lions were able to pay tribute some key members of the senior class, as Louie Maldonado and Stan Sandoval came into the game for the first time. Aside from the second half subs, Shumowitz, Williams, Brennan Branca, Joe Morris, and Andrew Tinari were all recognized prior to kickoff, as the class of 2017 played its final contest at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.
In addition to Columbia picking up its 10th ever conference crown, the title is the first under Anderson, and first since 1993.
