BROOKVILLE, N.Y. — The Columbia men's soccer team played to a 0-0 draw with LIU Saturday afternoon at LIU Soccer Park.
 
Columbia (1-2-2) did well to shut out an LIU team (3-2-2) which had scored six goals in its last two matches. Both of those contests also came at home and resulted in wins for the Sharks. The scoreless draw was the second of the season for LIU and the first for the Lions since Oct. 26, 2019 at Dartmouth.
 
"We're happy to get a point on the road but obviously would like to have come away with more than that," Columbia head coach Kevin Anderson said. "Listen, we've been strong defensively and it has to start somewhere, right. To not give up a goal against a side on the road that came into this with six goals in its last two games really says something. Now, we have to grow on the next part of our game."
 
The clean sheet was the second of the season for junior goalkeeper Michael Collodi. He came up with seven saves in the contest, none bigger than denying a one-on-one attempt in the 67th minute. Collodi improved his Ivy League-leading save percentage to 0.938 and evened his record up a 1-1-1.
 
Although the match ultimately had nothing in it for either side, it didn't lack opportunities. Columbia was credited with 13 shots, eight on goal. First-year Paolo Primavera had one of the best chances of the match to find the back of the net, getting off a shot from inside the six late in the first half that was blocked but came right back to him. His second attempt was on target but denied by Demetri Skoumbakis. The LIU keeper finished the match with eight saves. The action got a little physical to start the second half as both teams were shown their first yellow cards within the first 15 minutes by referee William Pottoroff. A few moments later, Columbia sent a ball in from the far side of the field that floated through the box and found Brian Timoney. He controlled the deflection, darted inside the area and fired off a hard shot that missed wide.
 
The Lions would test Skoumbakis before the end of the second half. Kipness didn't get as much as he would have liked on an attempt from inside the area in the 71st minute that Skoumbakis still had to dive for. Columbia then found itself with a 3-on-3 opportunity with less than five minutes remaining, but a low ball by Timoney looking for Sebasitain Gunbeyi on the other side of the area was cleared away before it had a chance.
 
Columbia managed one shot between the two overtime periods, which came off the head of Andrew Stevens but was easily scooped up.
 
After playing three of their last four matches on the road, the Lions return home for three straight, beginning Tuesday when they host Drexel at 7 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.