BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Columbia men's soccer team led Lehigh for more than 40 minutes but the Mountain Hawks scored twice in the final half hour to overtake the Lions, 2-1, Friday night at Ulrich Sports Complex. The game was Columbia's 2025 season opener and served as the home opener for Lehigh (2-0-1).
 
First year Henning Myrvang had Columbia's highlight of the night. After the Lions had the better of the opening 20 minutes, junior Joe McDaid sent a ball over the top down the far side of the field for Myrvang. The rookie from Sweden chested the ball down, brought it into the box and fired a confident right-footed shot into the back of the net for a debut goal.
 
Myrvang's goal remained the difference at halftime. Each team took six shots in the opening 45 minutes with both goalkeepers making two saves apiece. The Lions generated four corners to Lehigh's two.
 
Alexander O'Brien kept the Lions in front a little while longer. In his fifth career start, the sophomore keeper from Toronto made a great diving stop on a shot to his left in the 50th minute. It was one of his four saves on the evening.
 
Lehigh would break through 13 minutes later. A long throw sent into the area bounced around and found the foot of Sam Davis, who slid to the ground and whipped a shot inside the right post from close range.
 
The Lions regained momentum in the 78th minute. On a night that saw seven yellow cards issued, Lehigh's Trey Sheeler picked up his second with a hard foul in Columbia's attacking third. That gave the Lions a one-man advantage the rest of the way.
 
Unfortunately, Lehigh found a way to score again despite the one-man disadvantage. It all started when the Mountain Hawks earned a corner. Giacomo Zizza sent the ball over the top toward the far post. O'Brien went for the punch but missed. The ball caromed between two Columbia defenders and came right back to Paul Smajlaj, who only had to tap it in from a few yards to give his side the lead.
 
Still with the man advantage, Columbia applied pressure as it looked for an equalizer over the final 10 minutes. The Lions outshot Lehigh 12-7 in the second half, but could not find an answer.
 
Columbia returns home to prepare for its home opener against Villanova next Friday, September 5. First kick from Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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