NEW YORK — Three days after scoring a season-high three times to defeat Harvard, the Columbia men's soccer team poured in an avalanche of goals against Fordham. After 90 minutes, they celebrated yet another victory, 5-1, over the Rams on Tuesday night at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.
 
It began in the sixth minute on first year Stepan Kapranov's team-leading fourth goal of the season. The next four Columbia goals were all the first of each player's respective collegiate careers, which included sophomore Peter Chang, senior Ryan Yang, sophomore Luke Zielinski and sophomore Will Carnoy. For Carnoy, his goal came just three minutes into his collegiate debut after subbing on in the 81st minute.
 
"I feel like we caught fire for a little bit," said Zielinski during a postgame interview on ESPN+. "The group's super cohesive right now – we're finally putting the ball in the back of the net. It's been there all year but the clinicalness from the group has been fantastic in these last two matches or so."
 
Columbia (3-6-4, 1-3-1 Ivy) rolled off its second straight win, stringing together victories for the first time since 2019. They did it with 15 shots, nine of which came on goal. Meanwhile, they defended away chance after chance by Fordham (7-5-3, 4-1-2 A10), which took a total of 26 shots with eight on target. Sophomore keeper Alexander O'Brien was credited with five saves.
 
It didn't take long to open the scoring. First year Henning Myrvang received a pass from Brandon Newman and played it forward for Kapranov. With a defender on his right, Kapranov bounced a left-footed shot to the right of Fordham keeper Ryan Foley, beating him inside the near post for the early lead.
 
Chang doubled the advantage just past the half-hour mark. Zielinski played a brilliant ball over the top from the midfield stripe. The flag stayed down for Chang, who was well in behind the back line. He chipped the ball first time over the keeper and tapped it into an empty net.
 
The Lions made it three with 7:30 left in the half. This time, it was Joe McDaid playing a ball way ahead from well in his own half. Yang timed the run up the near side, met it on the bounce, got around the keeper and slotted home another to an empty net.
 
Fordham got one back early in the second half. It came on a free-kick goal by Daniel Lang from just over 20 yards.
 
However, it didn't take long for Columbia to generate another response. Just five minutes later, Newman floated a ball up ahead from midfield for Luke Zielinski in front of the Columbia bench. He chested it down, brought it across the top of the penalty area and fired a left-footed shot back the other way that was perfectly placed inside the far post. Just like that, Columbia had regained its three-goal advantage.
 
The cherry on top came from Will Carnoy. After missing his entire rookie season with an injury, he made his collegiate debut Tuesday night as a sub in the 81st minute. Two minutes later, he was presented with his very first opportunity and converted. Yang played Carnoy ahead in front of the Columbia bench. The New York native brought the ball into the top-right area of the box and took his chance with a left-footed strike. It was perfect, squeezing the shot between two converging defenders and beating the keeper to his right. Carnoy was then mobbed by his teammates at the corner flag.
 
Columbia's five goals were its most in a game since beating Harvard, 6-1, on November 10, 2019.

The Lions now prepare to take on Brown (5-6-2, 1-3-1 Ivy) this Saturday in Providence. Kickoff at Stevenson-Pincince Field is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
 
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