SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. — The Columbia men's soccer team created several good opportunities to score and even potentially upset the 22nd-ranked Seton Hall Pirates. Ultimately, none of those opportunities came to fruition and SHU held on, 2-0, Friday night at Owen T. Carroll Field.
 
Some of Columbia's best looks came in the second half. Trailing by just a goal, Adrien Wheaton-Schopp came on as a substitute and made an impact. The senior slipped by two defenders to drive into the left side and pass it off to Ryan Yang near the top of the area. Yang's initial shot was blocked but he got another clean look that was driven hard but right at SHU keeper Soren Jensen.
 
Fifteen minutes later, Wheaton-Schopp drove into a similar area and fired off a right-footed curler from a tough angle that Jensen had to leap to get his hands on. The rebound fell forward to Cy Sokolowski, who one-timed a second opportunity that Jensen caught while lying on the ground. Despite Columbia creating the overwhelming majority of opportunities, Seton Hall (4-0-0) capitalized in the 82nd minute to ensure its perfect record would remain intact. Columbia's back line was pressured and Ryan Kipness attempted a back pass to goalkeeper Dean Kelliher. The touch was misplayed, allowing Sam Bjork to leap in front, beat Kelliher to the ball and double the lead.
 
The Lions (0-2-0) had one final great opportunity come up empty in the 88th minute. First-year Andres Garcia played a ball from near the goal line into the six-yard box for classmate Luka Peric. Unfortunately for the Lions, Jensen made a reactionary save and also stopped the second opportunity from point-blank range.
 
The final stats showed Columbia with 11 shots, seven on goal, to 13 for Seton Hall, five of which were on target. The Pirates had a lopsided 8-0 advantage in corners but Columbia defended all of them well.  
 
Kelliher made the first of his three saves in the game's 21st minute, snagging a shot from SHU's Jared Smith that was taken just inside the 18. However, SHU beat Kelliher 10 minutes later, when Rikard Cederberg swept in a low hard cross into the area that Thomas Sellwood one-timed home.
 
Columbia's will face off against Manhattan University (0-3-0) on Wednesday at Gaelic Park in Riverdale.
 
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