NEW YORK — A pair of second-half goals by visiting LIU resulted in a 3-1 loss for the Columbia men's soccer team on Monday night at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.
 
Columbia (1-3-2) was coming off a three-goal performance in Friday's victory at UConn and created several goal-scoring opportunities against the Sharks. However, a misplayed defensive header in the second minute gave LIU (3-4-0) an immediate lead and had the Lions chasing most of the first half. Senior Danny Laranetto was able to level the score before halftime, but Ryan Grande gave LIU the lead back in the second half before Camarri Johnson made it a two-goal game with less than 18 minutes remaining.
 
"It's just inconsistency," head coach Kevin Anderson stated. "We got away from keeping things simple and executing them well. Instead of going to the things that we know and doing them well, we start to get frustrated. Once that happens we begin to get more creative in the wrong places on the field. Our guys have to mature in that respect. We have to go back to the little things within the game that have worked well for us. Tonight, we got away from that."
 
Columbia's shot count for the night nearly doubled that of LIU's, 18-10, while the Lions held a 60-40 advantage in possession. LIU's Matias Pesallaccia made five saves on the night as the Lions threatened to score on multiple occasions but could not find the touch they desired in the final third.
 
LIU's early goal was created from a long ball sent over the top by Anton Ocampo. Columbia had two men marking Papa Ndoye as the ball came in but first year Keenan Foley's headed clearance was popped straight up. The ball then came down toward Ndoye, who struck it out of the air with his left foot to give the Sharks a sudden lead.
 
Columbia settled things down the rest of the half, controlling the vast majority of possession but not taking an attempt on target until Beto Carrillo's shot in the 24th minute. Looks by Vana Markarian, Matthew Swain and John Denis all went around the LIU goal over the next five minutes.
 
After the barrage of opportunities missed, Danny Laranetto found himself in the right spot to put away his second goal of the season and bring the match back on level terms. First year Uri Zeitz, who scored his first collegiate goal on Friday, made his way into the far side of the penalty area. An LIU defender tackled the ball away from Zeitz but the deflection came through the area to Laranetto. The senior acted quickly and decisively, continuing his move forward and blasting a shot by Pesallaccia to equalize.
 
Columbia looked dangerous in the opening minutes of the second half. John Denis had an attempt from eight yards saved by the left foot of Pesallaccia just four minutes into the second 45. Seconds later, with the ball still in the penalty area, Laranetto touched a pass up to John Ned, but the rookie's strike from nearly the same spot as Denis's was blocked away.
 
More opportunities to take the lead came Columbia's way that were just unable to be put away. A low cross by Ned from the far side got past the LIU keeper and rolled toward a racing Uri Zeitz. Just as Zeitz was about to finish the go-ahead score, Luke Kasulke tackled it away and the ball was cleared. Zeitz had another chance to score in the 59th minute, taking a hard shot across goal that required a diving save to Pesallaccia's right. The rebound fell right to Carrillo, who struck it hard and well first-time from close range but couldn't get it through a pair of LIU defenders in front of goal.
 
LIU survived the early onslaught and took advantage of a set piece in the 62nd minute to grab the lead. Stefan Faistenauer sent the long free kick in from about 35 yards. The delivery was headed across the box by Atha Coutroumpas and put away by Ryan Grande from the top of the area to put the Lions back on their heels.
 
Less than 11 minutes later, the lead doubled to two goals when Coutroumpas sent a cross through the box that took a deflection but made its way to Camarri Johnson on the far side. Johnson settled and struck his shot over Collodi and into the upper-right corner, bringing the match to its eventual final score.
 
Columbia plays home again on Friday, welcoming Monmouth (0-5-1) to Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium for the team's final tune-up before the start of Ivy League play. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
For the latest on the Columbia men's soccer program, follow @ColumbiaMSoccer on Twitter and Instagram, on Facebook at Facebook.com/ColumbiaMensSoccer and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.