NEW YORK — The Columbia men's soccer team (0-4-0) continues a four-match homestand on Wednesday night when it hosts Fairfield (0-6-0). First kick from Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
GAME COVERAGE:
Fans unable to attend Wednesday 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
Columbia opened its home schedule on Saturday against Sacred Heart. A scoreless battle turned in favor of the Pioneers in the 75th minute on a goal by Javier Lopez Cayuela. The goal came after a 10-minute stretch in which Columbia had gotten off four of its six shots in the game. The Lions kept battling and created a very dangerous cross in the final minutes that was ultimately blocked away.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Fairfield also comes into Wednesday in search of its first win. The Stags have managed seven goals in their first six matches but have allowed a total of 21 (3.5 per game). They own the fifth-worst goal differential and have allowed the third-most goals in the country.
Thomas Drillen and Devin Zachry lead the Fairfield attack with two goals apiece. Drillen also has an assist for a team-leading five points. Five of Drillen's eight shots have come on goal. Fairfield's three other goal scorers each own one goal. William Piece has taken a team-high 12 shots, seven on goal.
Viktor Nikolov has started all six matches in goal and carries a 3.64 GAA. He has made 19 total saves and averages 3.33 saves per game.
THE SERIES
Columbia will be looking to even up the all-time series, which Fairfield currently leads 2-1-2. The last time the two programs faced off was in New York City in the 2012 season opener. The Lions outshot the Stags, 10-3, but were beaten on a 34th-minute goal from Reco McLaren. Columbia's last and only series win came in the 2011 season opener in Fairfield, 1-0, on a 29th-minute goal from David Najem.
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.
