NEW YORK – A goal in the first overtime would prove to be the difference maker, as the Columbia men's soccer team fell in the season finale to Cornell, 2-1, today at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.
 
With the loss, the Lions will finish second in the Ivy League standings, as the team entered today with a chance to take its third conference crown had Columbia won and Princeton either fell or posted a draw at Yale.
 
The Lions defense was impressive in the first half of action, playing into the wind and sun on a bright but chilly day. With the two advantages at their back, the Big Red only put one of five shots over the first 45 minutes on goal, which was saved by Dylan Castanheira.
 
A pair of opportunistic chances came off the foot of both Francisco Agrest and John Denis during the first half, but neither player was able to push anything across as the teams went into the break tied, 0-0.
 
Columbia kept the pressure on in the second half, with Denis putting an attempt on goal in the 52nd minute, which was saved by Cornell's Ryan Shellow. After a Blake Willis corner kick 30 seconds later, Vana Markarian looked to put the Lions on the board, but was high on his shot attempt.
 
In the 59th minute, the Lions would break through for the games first score. Sebastian Gunbeyi found John Denis streaking up the right side. A strike from Denis went just inside the far post, giving the Lions a 1-0 lead in the second half.
 
Less than two minutes after the Denis goal, Cornell looked to break through on the other end, but Castanheira was there for a save off of a Charles Touche attempt. In the 73rd minute however, the Big Red would find that goal, when Tyler Bagley connected with John Scearce, making it a 1-1 match with just over 17 minutes remaining in regulation.
 
The goal gave all the momentum to the Big Red, who kept firing. Three minutes after the goal, Scearce had an attempt blocked, then made Castanheira work for a save in the 78th minute. On the next Big Red possession, Tyler Bagley sent a bending shot from the left side towards the far upper-90, but Castanheira was there to knock it away, impressing the raucous crowd.
 
The Lions would have their chances in the closing moments, but nothing would get past the line. Brendan Dennis had an attempt saved in the 81st minute, before shots by Denis, Francisco Agrest, and Kynan Rocks were all off-frame.
 
After heading into an overtime period, Cornell would end the match the way they were looking to do so. Scearce connected with Touche who came open on the left side of the box. A left-footed shot bounced off the lower part of the cross bar, then into the net for the game-winner, with just under four minutes erased from the clock in the first overtime period.
 
Cornell out-shot Columbia 17-13 for the match, including 3-0 in overtime. Although he gave up a pair of goals coupled with his seven saves, Castanheira will end his career at the top of the Ivy League list in goals against average for his career at 0.513.