Men’s Soccer Prepares for Home Opener Saturday Night

Joe McDaid (left) and Jack McDaid (right)

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Stockton Photo, Inc.

Men’s Soccer Prepares for Home Opener Saturday Night

9/13/2024 1:48:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Watch on ESPN+Live Stats @CULionsMSOC on Instagram

Lions begin a stretch of four in a row at home

NEW YORK — The Columbia men's soccer team (0-3-0) will play its first home game of the 2024 season on Saturday night against Sacred Heart (4-1-0). First kick from Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.

After playing their first three games of the season on the road, the Lions will now be home for four straight contests from September 14-24. Following Saturday's game against the Pioneers, the Lions will host Fairfield next Wednesday night (Sept. 18), followed by FDU next Saturday (Sept. 21) and Fordham on the 24th.

GAME COVERAGE:
Fans unable to attend Saturday night's game can watch live on ESPN+. A subscription is required to access the live video. Fans can also track live stats courtesy of GoColumbiaLions.com. In-game updates will also be provided on the @CULionsMSOC social media accounts.

LAST TIME OUT
The Lions visited Manhattan University for a New York City derby on the anniversary of September 11. The Jaspers came out on top, scoring 54 seconds into the match and holding on, 1-0. Columbia posted eight shots, one on goal, with its best coming off a free kick from Maryland transfer Jack McDaid in the 27th minute. The Lions had to play down a man for the final 31 minutes following a straight red issued to Jackson ten Oever.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Sacred Heart is on a three-match winning streak in which it has not allowed a goal. The streak began with a win at Army on September 2, 1-0, followed by back-to-back home wins over Lehigh, 5-0, and NJIT, 1-0. They enter Saturday's contest on a shutout streak of 283 minutes and 16 seconds.

Goalkeeper Andrew Hammersley has started four of the five matches between the posts with an overall record of 3-1-0 and a GAA of 1.00. Luca Marinelli started the most recent contest and shut out NJIT, 1-0, making nine saves in the victory.

On the attack, first-year forward Ivan Morcillo has scored a team-high three goals and tacked on one assist. His first score of the season came at Army, followed by a brace as part of his team's five-goal output against Lehigh. Juniors Sam McCann and David Garcia Gallego have scored two goals apiece. McCann scored the game-winner in the 63rd minute of Tuesday's victory against the Highlanders.

THE SERIES
Columbia and Sacred Heart are meeting for the second year in a row. Last season, the Pioneers won a 1-0 game in Fairfield, Connecticut on a goal by Garcia Gallego in the 23rd minute. It was the first matchup between the two sides since 2017. The Lions won five consecutive series meetings from 2013-17. The series dates back to 2010.

2024 PRESEASON NOTES

RETURNING
The Lions return 18 players from last year's team. Eight of this year's returners played in 10 or more matches last season, while nine players started at least six matches. Columbia's two returning goal scorers are Joao Lima and Chad Baker. Lima netted four goals and took a team-high 28 shots with 14 shots on goal on his way to an All-Ivy League Honorable Mention. Baker scored three times and assisted another as a first-year in 2023. Midfielder Alessandro Fraciosa played and started nine matches and was third on the team with 14 shots taken.

NEW-LOOK LIONS
Columbia announced the addition of 11 players to the roster last month. The newcomers included eight first-years and three sophomores. Two of those sophomores, Joe McDaid and Jack McDaid, transferred in after playing the 2023 season at Maryland.

Among the incoming defenders are Rafa Romo, Joe McDaid, Andrew Hilton II and Will Carnoy. Alexander O'Brien will also look to make an impact on the defense as the lone incoming goalkeeper. The midfielders are Luke Zielinski, Jack McDaid, Peter Chang and Will Case. Meanwhile, forwards Andres Garcia and Luka Peric hope to make the most impact on Columbia's goal-scoring efforts.

A CHANGE IN GOAL
Columbia will have a new primary starting goalkeeper for the first time since 2018 after the graduation of Michael Collodi last year. Collodi started 57 matches and played in 58 during his four-year career – Columbia's 2020 season was canceled due to COVID. He graduated with 237 career saves, which ranks second all-time behind program leader John McElaney (1976-79), who had 334. Collodi now plays for North Texas SC of MLS Next Pro.

Among this year's returning keepers, junior Dean Kelliher has made one collegiate appearance and senior Andreas Zamanian has played in four games with two starts.

BUILDING FROM 2023
Columbia looks to build from a 2-8-4 campaign a year ago in what was the first under head coach Michael Casper. The Lions improved from back-to-back single-win campaigns in 2021 and 2022, defeating Manhattan, 3-0, for Casper's first win before going on to down Quinnipiac, 2-0.

ABOUT COLUMBIA MEN'S SOCCER
The 2024 season marks the 77th varsity season of men's soccer at Columbia University. The program was established in 1906 but discontinued as a varsity sport from 1916-57. The program regained its varsity status in 1957 and played 63 straight seasons until the 2020 campaign was canceled due to COVID.

Columbia men's soccer came to prominence in the late '70s, advancing to their first NCAA Tournament in 1978 before going all the way to the Final Four in 1979. After multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and Ivy League championships through the early '80s, the Lions made a run to the NCAA Tournament Championship Game in 1983. Columbia defeated UConn, 4-0, in the Final Four to take on Indiana for the National Championship. The Hoosiers outlasted Columbia, 1-0, in overtime.

Columbia owns 10 Ivy League championships and 13 NCAA Tournament appearances all-time.

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.