Columbia University
Penn
Lions Host Penn Saturday Afternoon at Baker
10/27/2023 3:57:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Columbia finishes off 2023 with back-to-back home games
NEW YORK — The Columbia men's soccer team plays host to the University of Pennsylvania on Saturday at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium. First kick is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
GAME COVERAGE:
Fans unable to attend the game can watch live on ESPN+. Fans can also track the live stats courtesy of GoColumbiaLions.com. In-game updates will also be provided on the @CULionsMSOC Twitter and Instagram accounts.
HOME SWEET HOME:
Columbia (2-7-3, 0-4-1 Ivy) has enjoyed nearly all of its success on its home turf this season. Entering Saturday's contest, the Lions are 2-1-2 at Commisso Soccer Stadium, accounting for eight of their nine points on the campaign. In those games, they have outscored the opposition 8-5, including a 2-0 win against Quinnipiac on September 19, as well as a 1-1 draw against Ivy League-leading Dartmouth on October 13.
COLLODI CLIMBS THE CHARTS
Michael Collodi has entered Columbia's top-five all-time in saves. The senior keeper from Frisco, Texas has totaled 225 in his career, passing the late Alexander Aurrichio (2008-10) for fourth earlier this season. Also within reach for Collodi are Jeff Micheli (1984-87) and Steve McAnulty (1992-95), who had 231 and 235 saves, respectively. The all-time leader is John McElaney (1976-79) with 334.
DEVELOPING THE ATTACK
Columbia has made huge strides on the attack this season. Last year, they ranked 200th or worse out of 203 teams in NCAA Div. I soccer in scoring offense (0.50), total goals (8), total points (19), total assists (3), shots on goal per game (2.94), shot accuracy (0.343), points per game (1.19) and assists per game (0.19). This season, the Lions are averaging just shy of a goal per game through 12 matches, which includes a team-high four goals from Joao Lima, as well as three apiece from Will DeNight and first-year Chad Baker. DeNight is also top 25 in the NCAA in shot accuracy (.565). Both Lima and DeNight average at least 1.00 shot on goal per game.
Penn (5-3-5, 2-1-2 Ivy) is locked in a four-way tie with Cornell, Yale and Harvard at the top of the Ivy League standings. All four teams hold eight points heading into their final two matches of the season. Just behind them are Brown (1-0-4 Ivy) and Dartmouth (2-2-1 Ivy) with seven points each. Princeton (1-2-2 Ivy) is also still alive for a shot at the top four qualifying spots for the first-ever Ivy League men's soccer tournament.
Michael Hewes (6) and Stas Korzeniowski (5) lead the goal-scoring effort for the Quakers. Hewes's six rank him in a tie for third in the Ivy League, while Korzeniowski's five rank him in a tie for fifth. Both are also top 10 in the Ivy League in points – Korzeniowski holds 16 and Hewes has 13. The Quakers hold a +8 goal differential for the season, are top-20 in the nation in shot accuracy (.496) and No. 12 in team GAA (0.692). Goalkeeper Nick Christoffersen ranks 17th in the nation in save percentage (.800), which is tops in the Ivy League.
THE SERIES
The all-time series is all square between Columba and Penn entering Saturday (34-34-8). Columbia went an unbeaten 7-0-3 against the Quakers from 2012-21 until Penn snapped the streak last season with a 2-0 victory in Philadelphia. Both goals came in the final 1:50 of the second half and were separated by just 96 seconds.
FOLLOW THE LIONS:
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.
