WEST POINT, N.Y. — A pair of second-half wonder strikes from sophomores
Andrew Hilton II and
Andres Garcia brought Columbia all the way back from two goals down to draw level with Army West Point, 2-2, Tuesday night at Malek Stadium.
Army (4-4-5, 2-2-1 Patriot) scored twice in the opening 12 minutes. Its first goal came in the fourth minute off a set piece, as Kelly Cooper knocked in a loose ball following a free kick sent into the box by Eric Lusskin. Eight minutes later, Jubril Bumgbala got behind Columbia's back line and beat keeper
Alexander O'Brien in close to double the advantage.
At that point, Army had taken the game's first four shots and put three of them on target. A potential third goal by the Cadets was disallowed in the 18th minute after a discussion between the officials changed the call to offside.
Columbia (1-5-4, 0-2-1 Ivy) made some substitutions and settled into the match.
Ryan Yang had a couple of looks go off target at the half's midway point. The Lions then had a flurry of chances over the final minute that Army survived to bring their 2-0 lead into the break.
Ten minutes into the second half, the Lions got right back in the game.
Luke Zielinski attempted to send a ball into the box that was deflected back toward
Jack McDaid. The junior played it out wide to Hilton II, who took one touch outside the corner of the area and blasted a left-footed strike through the hands of a diving Michael Guiry and into the back of the net. It was Hilton II's first career goal.
McDaid nearly sent in the equalizer with a free-kick strike in the 65th minute. His left-footed strike from 30 yards required a diving effort to Guiry's right, saving it out of the top-left corner.
Columbia continued to play inspired, creating chances for themselves and allowing just two shots by the home team over the opening 35 minutes of the second half. Neither of Army's attempts threatened goal.
Finally, the deserved equalizer came in the 81st minute.
Amir Yahalom led Garcia ahead with a ball played from inside the center circle. Garcia took control 40 yards from goal, cut through the middle of the field, dribbled around a defender and fired a strike from well outside the top of the box. The driven shot was perfect, beating Guiry again to his right and skirting just inside the left post. It was Garcia's first goal of the season.
One more look from McDaid had to be saved by Guiry with five minutes remaining. After 90 minutes, the whistle sounded to end the 2-2 draw.
The Lions return to their Ivy League slate this weekend, heading to Princeton, New Jersey, to challenge No. 5 Princeton (9-1-1, 3-0-0 Ivy). Kickoff at Roberts Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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