NEW YORK — Behind a second-half scoring outburst, the Columbia men's soccer team defeated Harvard, 3-1, Saturday night at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.
 
The win gives Columbia (2-6-4, 1-3-1 Ivy) three much-needed points in the Ivy League standings. It bumped the Lions up from last place into a four-way tie for fifth with Harvard, Brown and Yale. All four teams are 1-3-1 through five league matches and sit just two points behind Dartmouth (2-3 Ivy) for a coveted top-four spot to qualify for the Ivy League Tournament. Columbia will travel to Brown next weekend.
 
After a goalless first half that didn't see either team create too many goal-scoring chances, the Lions got on the board courtesy of senior Brandon Newman. Playing in front of many former players on Alumni Night, Newman slammed home his first collegiate goal. It started when he sent Will Case out wide of the penalty area. Case beamed a low cross back into the center of the box and Newman met it perfectly at the top of the six, confidently blasting it into the back of the net just before the hour mark.
 
Six minutes later, Case doubled the lead. Alessandro Franciosa sent one of Columbia's four corner kicks into the center of the area. Harvard attempted to clear but didn't get too much on it. The spinning ball fell to Case, standing exactly on the right side of the 18-yard box. The sophomore took his chance on the volley, driving a low, hard shot toward goal that pinballed off a Harvard defender and into the back of the net.
 
Harvard (5-5-4, 1-3-1 Ivy) didn't let the Lions sit comfortably for too long. Needing a goal to get back in it, Adam Poliakov took matters into his own feet. He dribbled a ball from out wide all the way to the top of the box, turned and fired a right-footed shot back across to his left. It snuck inside the post to, once again, make it a one-goal game.
 
Ultimately, the Lions would not be denied their three points. It was a trio of first-years that connected for the third goal. Henning Myrvang played a ball back to Amir Yahalom well away from goal. Yahalom then sent it forward for Stepan Kapranov, who got in behind the back line and put the game on ice, finishing off the chance and the match.
 
Columbia's three goals on Saturday night are its most in an Ivy League game since beating Yale, 3-2, in 2021.

The Lions are home again on Tuesday night to play their final non-conference matchup of the season. They'll take on Fordham (7-4-3) at 7 p.m.
 
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