NEW HAVEN, Conn. – A pair of first half goals helped the Columbia men's soccer team pick up a crucial three points in the Ivy League standings with a 2-1 win at Yale.
 
The victory helps the Lions improve to 8-4-1 and 4-1 in the Ancient Eight, while the Bulldogs fall to 6-5-1 (1-2-2).
 
Columbia got on the board early in the contest, after an impressive strike by Dylan Mott. Not even 90 seconds into the match, Kynan Rocks streaked up the left and fired a shot at Yale goalkeeper Tom Wallenstein, that was saved but bounced out. Mott gathered the ball just inside the box on the right, and sent a bending strike into the left upper-90 for his third goal of the year.
 
Later in the second half, the Lions drew a foul, setting up a free kick on the right side of the field. From around 25 yards of goal, Blake Willis sent the ball into the box, which was headed towards the left side of the net by Vana Markarian. The header got by Wallenstein to make it a 2-0 match with 4:30 before the half.
 
Yale was able to put the pressure on in the second half, thanks to a goal by Nicky Downs. In the 67th minute, Andrew Carton and Paolo connected with Downs, making it a 2-1 tally.
 
The next best chance for the Lions came 10 minutes later, but a shot from Danny Laranetto was saved, before a Francisco Agrest attempt went high. The Bulldogs had three attempts in the closing moments of the match, but Dylan Castanheira was there for a save, before attempts from Mark Winhoffer and Enzo Okpoye went wide, preserving the victory for Columbia.
 
Rocks and Willis both posted their second assists of the year in the win, while Castanheira finished with three saves and one goal against.
 
The Lions are back in action on Tuesday at home, facing Hofstra at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+.