QUEENS, N.Y. — The Columbia men's soccer team suffered its second loss of the season on Monday, falling to St. John's, 1-0, at Belson Stadium.
 
One goal was all the match had in it. St. John's (4-2-0) took advantage of a set piece in the 43rd minute, sent in by Atila Ashrafi and headed in by Lucas Bartlett to give the Red Storm a lead they would never surrender.
 
Columbia (1-2-1) was held to seven shots and were unable to put any on goal. A chaotic final seconds provided one last opportunity for the Lions, but Sebastian Gunbeyi's shot just before time expired came at a very difficult angle and hit the side netting.
 
St. John's enjoyed the majority of possession through the opening 20 minutes. Columbia senior Andrew Stevens was able to get a shot off from distance early on that sailed well high of goal.
 
Columbia settled in and earned a few set pieces in dangerous territory through the second part of the first half. A long throw deep in the Red Storm half was played out for Ryan Kipness, who tried to volley an attempt at goal that struck the wrong part of his foot and flew into the stands. Later in the half, Kipness took a look at goal off a direct free kick that was blocked away by a St. John's body.
 
Michael Collodi kept the Red Storm off the board with a tremendous save in the 31st minute. Ashrafi tested the junior keeper from about 25 yards with a strike that was destined to sneak under the crossbar. Collodi did well to make a leaping save and punch the ball over the bar. Ashrafi would eventually make his mark though. With less than three minutes left in the half, he sent a right-footed inswinger from the far corner that met the head of Bartlett at the top of the six. Bartlett redirected the cross toward the right side of goal and past Columbia's defenders guarding the line for the breakthrough.
 
Columbia kept challenging St. John's through the second half and put together enough opportunities to potentially level the score. Five minutes in, Jack Muoio helped create one of those chances, sending a long cross in from right in front of the St. John's bench that caused some trouble for keeper Luka Gavran. He came off his line to try and catch the cross but bobbled it. Fortunately for the Red Storm, Gavran was able to pick it right back up and prevent the Lions from scoring.
 
One of the best chances to equalize came in the 70th minute. Kipness got control down near the corner and crossed up his defender to dribble into the penalty area. He sent a dangerous cross straight across the top of the six, but it didn't find a teammate and was eventually cleared away.
 
Eight minutes later, Will Todd played a great through ball from about 35 yards from goal that found Ryan Wallace entering the penalty area in behind the St. John's defense. Wallace got off a clean left-footed strike but could not hit the target, missing just high of the top-left corner. As the final seconds ticked away, Muoio tossed a long throw from the touch line that bounced around the St. John's penalty area. The Lions were able to find Gunbeyi on the goal line outside of the far post, but the angle was too difficult to do much with as the final attempt slammed into the side netting.
 
Columbia will continue the search for its first road result on Saturday when it travels out to Long Island to battle the LIU Sharks. Kickoff from Old Westbury is set for 3 p.m. ET.

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.