STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Down to 10 men and down a goal entering the second half, the Columbia men's soccer team played inspired soccer, but never found the answer it needed in falling to Stony Brook, 1-0, on a Labor Day Monday at Lavelle Stadium.
 
Columbia (1-1-0) was less than a minute from heading into the half when Stony Brook's goal-scoring moment played out. Junior keeper Michael Collodi leapt for a high ball in the Columbia penalty area, but had it fall off his hands and roll toward his own goal. As he ran back for it, Collodi was whistled for fouling a Stony Brook forward in pursuit and shown a red card by the head official. Stony Brook (3-1-0) capitalized as Gabriel Fernandes put away the penalty for what turned out to be the match's lone goal.
 
Despite playing with 10 men the entirety of the second half, the Lions were the overwhelming aggressors out of the locker rooms. They did well to maintain possession through the first five minutes and were presented their first opportunity when sophomore Jack Muoio caused a turnover in the Seawolves' half and went on a break with first-year Paolo Primavera. Muoio then played a one-touch pass up for Primavera, but SBU was able to defend it away for a corner.
 
More opportunities came Columbia's way as it continued to apply pressure through the opening 10 minutes. Fifteen minutes in, Muoio sent a long throw into the area that came out for Brian Timoney. The junior got a good shot off inside the 18-yard box that sailed just high of the top-right corner.

"You have to adjust and you have to put the team in a position tactically and in terms of your formation to figure out how to manage what the other team can do and keep yourself in the game," Columbia head coach Kevin Anderson said. "You create opportunities to get yourself back in and hopefully get a point.

"Effort has been consistent from everybody over the course of the first two games. To create situations where we have restarts, to create corners, long throws, these are all moments where you can even things out. If we could have created just a bit more quality or opportunity then maybe we get ourselves back in the game."

Columbia's best opportunity to draw level came in the 67th minute. Following a Stony Brook corner, Columbia keeper Andreas Zamanian, making his debut, grabbed the ball and transitioned Columbia onto the attack. He hit Muoio down the pitch in stride, who dribbled the ball up near the midfield line before sending a long ball ahead through the air for Jake Novoshelski. Battling two defenders, Novoshelski bodied off his marker to the left and tried to chip a shot toward goal, but Stony Brook keeper Edmond Kaiser was barely able to reach high enough to get a hand to it and clear the danger. Kaiser wound up with two saves on the afternoon.

Zamanian was tested for the first time in the 78th minute when he punched away a hard strike at the near post. The rookie ended the day with two saves.
 
The first half played fairly pedestrian for both sides until the final minute. Columbia nearly went up in the opening 90 seconds when a ball played in from the far side of the pitch found the head of Sebastian Gunbeyi. The senior's headed effort was on target, but saved away by Kaiser.
 
Columbia returns to Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium for its next match, hosting Manhattan (1-2-0) on Friday at 6 p.m.

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.