5 Things to Know: Columbia at Princeton Saturday

Saturday, October 16

Princeton, NJ

3:00 P.M.

Columbia University

Princeton

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin

5 Things to Know: Columbia at Princeton Saturday

10/15/2021 3:54:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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Start time moved to 3 p.m. ET

Editor's Note: The start time of Saturday's game has been moved to 3 p.m. ET due to impending severe weather forecasted for the Princeton area.

NEW YORK — The Columbia men's soccer team (1-6-3, 0-1-1 Ivy) hits the road for the first time this Ivy League season, making the short trip to central Jersey to take on Princeton (5-5-0, 2-0-0 Ivy). Kickoff from Sherrerd Field Class of 1952 Stadium is set for 3 p.m. ET.

Fans unable to attend the match can watch live on ESPN+. Live stats will be available through goprincetontigers.com.

Here are five things to know heading into the matchup.

#1 | THE LATEST
Columbia secured its first point of the Ivy League season last Saturday with a 1-1 draw at home against Penn. Sophomore Jake Novoshelski scored his second career goal and his first since the season opener against George Washington. His score put the Lions up 1-0 just before halftime and the Lions held the lead until the 73rd minute, when the Quakers leveled on a hard strike from in close off the foot of Joey Bhangdia. Neither side found a goal through the two overtime periods to walk away with a draw.

GOOOOOOAAAL! Jake Novoshelski heads it past the keeper from in close off the cross from Will DeNight! Lions take the lead less than a minute before the half!

🖥 https://t.co/UTiCHZ92fm
📊 https://t.co/joA6wRgGAq #RoarLionRoar pic.twitter.com/EaDmFtZqrj
— Columbia Mens Soccer (@CULionsMSOC) October 9, 2021

#2 | TURNING THE TIDE
After going through a rough patch offensively earlier this season, Columbia has begun to turn things around with goals in each of its last two games. Sophomore Will DeNight ended the team's five-match goalless drought on October 5 with a tremendous free kick strike at Hofstra. Four days later, the Lions took their first lead in any match since September 10 when Jake Novoshelski found the back of the net against Penn.

#3 | DEFENSIVE LEADERS
Columbia's defense ranks among the best in the nation. Heading into the weekend, the Lions rank top-20 in save percentage (.814) and top-30 in saves per game (4.80), all while allowing the fewest goals in the Ivy League (11). Junior goalkeeper Michael Collodi ranks 12th nationally in save percentage (.840), 24th in saves per game (4.67) and carries a top-40 goals against average (0.895). Collodi's GAA and save percentage each rank atop the Ivy League.

Go behind the scenes with the team from our 2021 Photo Day#RoarLionRoar #NCAASoccer @NCAASoccer @ivyleague pic.twitter.com/sqdTr9Vqes
— Columbia Mens Soccer (@CULionsMSOC) October 14, 2021

#4 | TRACKING ALL OF THE FIRSTS
Due in part to the 2020 season being cancelled from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lions have had a lot of firsts for the players on their roster this season. Many of them are tracked below:

First Collegiate Starts:
- #4 Matthew Leong vs. George Washington (Sept. 3)
- #5 Jake Novoshelski vs. Stony Brook (Sept. 6)
- #7 Adrien Wheaton-Schopp vs. LIU (Sept. 18)
- #9 Paolo Primavera vs. George Washington (Sept. 3)
- #11 Ryan Kipness vs. George Washington (Sept. 3)
- #13 Jack Muoio vs. George Washington (Sept. 3)
- #16 David Walley vs. St. John's (Sept. 13)
- #19 Will DeNight vs. George Washington (Sept. 3)
- #23 Hugo Hamilton vs. Stony Brook (Sept. 6)
- #24 Ryan Wallace vs. Manhattan (Sept. 10)
- #25 Bryan Cosman vs. Stony Brook (Sept. 6)

First Collegiate Goals:
- #11 Ryan Kipness vs. George Washington (Sept. 3)
- #5 Jake Novoshelski vs George Washington (Sept. 3)
- #27 Will Todd vs. Manhattan (Sept. 10)
- #25 Bryan Cosman vs. Manhattan (Sept. 10)
- #19 Will DeNight at Hofstra (Oct. 5) **

** First as a Lion (transferred from Brandeis)

First Collegiate Assists:
- #5 Jake Novoshelski vs. George Washington (Sept. 3)
- #11 Ryan Kipness vs. George Washington (Sept. 3)
- #9 Paolo Primavera vs. Manhattan (Sept. 10)

#5 | THE OPPONENT
Princeton (5-5-0, 2-0-0 Ivy) is tied atop the Ivy League table with Cornell through the first two league matches. Both of Princeton's Ivy wins have come on the road, defeating Dartmouth in overtime, 3-2, before traveling to Brown last week and scoring three second-half goals to walk away 3-1 winners.

The Tigers have spread the wealth in terms of goal scoring this season with 10 different players combining for the team's 14 tallies. No Tiger has scored more than twice, led by Daniel Diaz Bonilla, Francis Akomeah-Sirleaf, Walker Gillespie and Malik Pinto. Diaz Bonilla and Kevin O'Toole have a team-high seven points.

In goal, Jack Roberts has played in all 10 matches and started nine of them. He carries a goals against average of 1.04 in 866 minutes.

The all-time series between Columbia and Princeton dates back to 1912. Columbia holds a 33-24-11 advantage and has fallen just twice in its last six matchups against the Tigers. Princeton took a 2-1 decision the last time the two sides met in 2019, also in New Jersey. The Lions are 2-2-1 in their last five trips to Princeton.

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For the latest on Columbia men's soccer, be sure to follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@CULionsMSOC), on Facebook (ColumbiaMensSoccer), or by visiting GoColumbiaLions.com.