HAMDEN, Conn. — The Columbia men's soccer team was defeated by Quinnipiac, 2-0, in its 2024 season opener on Friday. The Bobcats scored twice in a five-minute span during the first half.
 
Columbia (0-1-0) seemingly had all of the momentum in the early part of the game. Junior goalkeeper Dean Kelliher comfortably handled an early shot for his first save of the season and the Lions were threatening often. One of the better opportunities came when Carmine Falco was taken down just outside the right side of the penalty area to draw a dangerous free kick. Jack McDaid took a left-footed inswinger toward the far corner that sailed just high.
 
Columbia's best chance of the half came in the 25th minute. Cy Sokolowski poked the ball away from Quinnipiac's back line to start a counter-attack. The ball was eventually played ahead through the penalty area for Falco. The junior had just the keeper to beat but did not find the correct connection on his right-footed attempt.
 
Quinnipiac's first goal slowed all of Columbia's momentum. Moments after the Lions were unable to take the lead, the Bobcats (1-2-0) countered and opened up the scoring. Fredrik Moen came away with the ball just inside Quinnipiac's own half of the field. He played it along the midfield line to Alex Miller, who turned and sent a lofted pass ahead for Drew Seguro. Squeezing by three Columbia defenders, Seguro took one touch and beat Kelliher to his left for the 1-0 lead.
 
Less than five minutes later, Quinnipiac doubled its lead. Luke Schierenbeck was the catalyst, getting a ball to Filip Kangeman in the left half of the 18-yard box. Kangeman delicately floated a left-footed shot over Kelliher and into the far side of the net to pad the lead to 2-0 in the 32nd minute.
 
The Lions continued to attack and create looks. A corner kick in the 41st minute found the head of Will Case inside the area but it was grabbed from under the crossbar by Karl Netzell. It was the first of his four saves on the evening.
 
Columbia had good energy coming out of the locker room and had the majority of possession in the second half. The Lions outshot the Bobcats, 6-1, in the period, however, Quinnipiac seemed willing to sit back and see if the Lions could figure out the puzzle.
 
A good chance to cut the lead in half came in the 73rd minute. Luke Zielinski and Ryan Kipness were in control of the ball in the near corner before Zielinski sprung Kipness toward goal. The senior fired a shot across toward the top-right corner, but it was off target.
 
Jack McDaid and Luka Peric each delivered shots from in close during the final moments but Netzell stopped both of them.
 
The Lions play again in one week when they visit Seton Hall (2-0-0) in South Orange, New Jersey. Opening kick from Owen T. Carroll Field is set for 6:56 p.m.
 
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