HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — The Columbia men's soccer team came on late in an attempt to erase a two-goal deficit against Hofstra, but the Pride held on, 2-1, Tuesday night at Captains Field.
 
Hofstra (5-4-0) opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Jan Ziewiec headed a free kick sent in by Stefano Campisi into the back of the net. The Pride had the better of it most of the half, outshooting the Lions 8-2 with a 4-0 advantage in corners.
 
Columbia (1-3-2) started to generate more consistent opportunities around the hour mark, beginning with a couple of shots sent over the top by Carmine Falco and Henning Myrvang. The Lions generated their first corner of the night in the 70th minute and later were awarded a free kick from just outside the far-right side of the penalty box when Carmine Falco was taken down. A yellow card was issued to Hofstra's Gabriel Pacheco for the foul.
 
Nothing came of either of those opportunities and Hofstra doubled its lead in the 79th minute. The Lions were unable to clear a long throw sent in from near the corner flag. The ball bounced between Columbia and Hofstra players in the box. The loose ball ricocheted out to Aaaron Basenach, who tucked it inside the near post to make it a two-goal game.
 
Desperately trying to get back in the game, the final 10 minutes were all Columbia. Successive shots by Amir Yahalom and Joao Lima were off the mark in the 80th and 81st minutes. Andres Garcia had a few opportunities a couple of minutes later, but both of those shots were off the mark as well.
 
With time winding down, Jack McDaid collected a loose ball just outside the top of the 18 and was tripped up trying to take it into the box. The referee blew his whistle for a foul, setting up a free kick just a few yards outside of the penalty area. McDaid stepped up and took it perfectly, driving a left-footed shot over the wall that banged off the bottom of the crossbar and bounced into the back of the net. It was his second goal of the season and his second in his last three matches.
 
Unfortunately, despite outshooting the Pride 9-5 in the second half, time ran out on Columbia's rally.

Columbia opens up the Ivy League season this Sunday at home against Penn (3-2-2). Kickoff at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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