QUEENS, N.Y. — The Columbia men's soccer team came on late to try and erase a two-goal deficit but was held off by St. John's, 2-1, Tuesday night in non-conference action at Belson Stadium.
In what has been a hotly contested series over the last few years, the 2023 edition was no different. However, St. John's (6-3-2) showed the quality when it mattered most, putting just two shots on goal all night but scoring off each of them. The first came moments after Alessandro Franciosa nearly put the Lions on top with a shot from outside the box that was saved out of the bottom-right corner. The latter came in the opening five minutes of the second half to increase the home side's lead to two.
There weren't many threatening chances for either side after that until Will DeNight created a moment of brilliance to cut the margin in half. The senior won possession between two defenders more than 35 yards from goal, made a nifty move to turn past them and was sent one-on-one with Red Storm keeper Alex McLachlan. With both defenders at his heels, DeNight blasted a shot toward the bottom right that McLachlan saved with his leg. The deflection was sent high into the air toward the center of the area and Chad Baker was in the right place at the right time. The first-year headed it first time off the volley, blasting his shot into the back of the net to get his team back in the game.
"I want to give a lot of credit to Will for the effort he brings and all of the work her does for us," head coach Michael Casper said. "I thought he worked extremely hard to create the opportunity for Chad to score – without his effort that goal doesn't happen. That being said, Chad is a player who knows how to run into the right areas. He's got a nose for where the ball will fall and runs into that spot. It's a really good trait for a forward to keep running into the box. If you do that, goals happen. He's been in the right place a number of times this season to cash one in for us."
The goal was Baker's third of his rookie campaign, tying him with DeNight for the team lead. DeNight was credited with the assist and now leads the Lions with seven points.
The Lions looked re-energized after the goal and pressed to try and equalize over the final 15 minutes. Ultimately, it proved too little too late.
"I thought the guys worked extremely hard. The effort and commitment to try and get something out of the game was there for 90 minutes," Casper added. "Even though we were down a goal at the half, we talked about how the shots were only 4-2 and the corners were 4-4, so we were in the game. Then, the second goal comes in just a few minutes into the second half and I think the guys may have lost some belief. One of the things we are going to talk about is that we are never out of a game. After we scored to make it 2-1, you could see the belief come back. We really went after them over the last 15 minutes of the game. We just need to play with that belief, that energy and that commitment for the completion of 90 minutes."
The final stat sheet read eight shots for St. John's and six for the Lions. Columbia forced McLachlan into three saves and put four of their six attempts on target.
Columbia will take on the Ivy League from here on out. Its next game comes this Saturday, October 7, at Princeton. First kick is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.
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