Second-Half Burst Lifts Lions to Season-Opening Victory, 2-0

Friday, September 3

New York, NY

1:00 P.M.

Columbia University

1-0-0, 0-0-0

George Washington

1-1-1, 0-0-0

George Washington

Columbia

Ryan Kipness (left) and Jake Novoshelski (right) celebrate after Kipness scored Columbia's first goal

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin

Second-Half Burst Lifts Lions to Season-Opening Victory, 2-0

9/3/2021 5:20:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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Kipness, Novoshelski score first collegiate goals

NEW YORK — Playing in their first collegiate games, first-year Ryan Kipness and sophomore Jake Novoshelski linked up twice within the first four minutes of the second half, lifting the Columbia men's soccer team to victory, 2-0, over George Washington Friday afternoon in the team's 2021 season opener at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.

Columbia (1-0-0) opened the scoring just 31 seconds into the second half. Novoshelski played a through ball up the middle of the pitch for Kipness, who met it inside the left half of the penalty area just as George Washington (1-1-1) keeper Justin Grady tried to make a play for it. The ball skipped over Grady and bounced along for Kipness, who poked his first collegiate shot in for Columbia's first goal of the season.

It didn't take long for the two rookies to put together another dazzling moment. Three minutes later, it was Kipness who found himself with the ball just across midfield. The first-year played a low floating pass up for Novoshelski, who beat his marker and deposited a left-footed shot inside the right post to make it 2-0 Lions.

"It was pure euphoria out there," said Novoshelski, a product of New York Red Bulls Academy. "It was a hard-fought battle — it was even — and then we come out 30 seconds into the second half and break them down … The rush was such an amazing feeling. I look up and my family was there and they got to watch it. It was the perfect day honestly."

Kipness echoed a similar sentiment.

"It was an amazing feeling to score in my first game in college soccer and get an assist as well," said Kipness, a product of the Met Oval. "Our team really worked hard in the preseason and it shows in this first game. I couldn't be prouder to play on this team."

46' | GOAL!!! Ryan Kipness scores his first career goal to put us up! Give the assist to Jake Novoshelksi.

🖥 https://t.co/XzWBIoHFLd
📊 https://t.co/joA6wRgGAq #RoarLionRoar #Goal #NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/r97Qgmqi10
— Columbia Mens Soccer (@CULionsMSOC) September 3, 2021

The Lions made those two goals stand up, thanks in part to the play of keeper Michael Collodi. The junior made three saves on nine shots faced through the afternoon. His first was fairly comfortable work in the 17th minute on a shot from distance that was hit right to him, but the experienced keeper did well to come off his line when needed through the match and came up with a spectacular save with less than two minutes remaining to preserve the shutout.

The game was Columbia's first in 657 days and its first at home in 663 days. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of the entire 2020 season and head coach Kevin Anderson believes his team used that time to become better versions of themselves.

"I would like to say it was scripted, right," Anderson said. "I think the reality of these 657 days is that we truly took an approach as a department, as a team, as people … to do what's in the best interest of everyone's health … What we gained was appreciation, empathy for others, listening more, talking less, and I think our players were able to then take this message and use it in their lives and come back the best version of themselves that they possibly could be. I'm really proud of this group."

47' | And another!!! This time it's Novoshelski who scores off the assist from Kipness!

2-0 Lions on top

🖥 https://t.co/XzWBIoHFLd
📊 https://t.co/joA6wRgGAq #RoarLionRoar #Goal #NCAASoccer @IvyLeague pic.twitter.com/ztq8wcZKjd
— Columbia Mens Soccer (@CULionsMSOC) September 3, 2021

The Colonials had the majority of possession in the first half but didn't create too many dangerous chances with it. Columbia put its first shot on target in the 27th minute, when senior Sebastian Gunbeyi sent a headed effort into the arms of Grady. The GW keeper wound up with three saves on the afternoon.

Columbia's best chance of the first half came a minute later when Gunbeyi one-touched a pass from inside the GW penalty are to Brian Timoney. The midfielder took two steps and struck a right-footed shot from the far-right edge of the six-yard box back across the face of goal, but it scooted just wide of the post.

Following the goals by Kipness and Novoshelski in the second half, the Lions had a golden opportunity to make it 3-0. Timoney played a wonderfully weighted ball over the top and in behind for Novoshelski, who headed it forward and found himself one-on-one with the GW keeper. The sophomore blasted a right-footed shot on target, but it was also right at Grady, who saved his team from falling in a deeper hole.

The Lions will look to take their momentum into Monday, when they travel out to Long Island to battle Stony Brook (1-1-0). Kickoff from Lavelle Stadium is slated for 1 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.