Zielinski's Rocket, Second-Half Surge Power Men's Soccer Past Holy Cross, 3-0

Tuesday, October 13

New York, N.Y.

7:00 p.m.

Columbia

4-2-4, 0-1-2

Holy Cross

1-6-6, 0-2-3

Team	1	2	Final F
Holy Cross	0	0	0
Columbia	1	2	3

Match Book Highlights Postgame Interview

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics

Zielinski's Rocket, Second-Half Surge Power Men's Soccer Past Holy Cross, 3-0

10/13/2026 10:21:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Highlights Postgame: Luke Zielinski

The Lions notch their most wins in a season since 2019 behind a three-goal output and Aris Taki’s fifth shutout.

NEW YORK — A stunner of a goal late in the first half and a rapid-fire second-half double pushed the Columbia men's soccer team to a decisive 3-0 victory over Holy Cross on Tuesday night at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.

With the win, Columbia improves to 4-2-4 on the season, marking the program's highest win total in a single campaign since 2019.

Holy Cross (1-6-6) held a slight edge in possession through much of the first period, maintaining pressure in their attacking third and seemingly breaking the ice in the 29th minute. Off a Crusaders corner kick, a header inside the box found Jeb Snead, who nodded the ball into the back of the net. However, after an official video review, the goal was disallowed due to a foul called on Liam Heneghan for a push in the box, keeping the match scoreless.

Columbia created the moment of the match just before halftime. In the 44th minute, shortly after taking a foul that resulted in his hand being stepped on, midfielder Luke Zielinski delivered a brilliant strike. Receiving a feed from defender Rafa Romo, Zielinski drove toward the penalty box and unleashed an absolute rocket from 25–30 yards out, driving it into the left corner of the net to send Columbia into halftime with a 1-0 advantage.

"It was a crazy run of play. I got stepped on after a foul and was bleeding, but the adrenaline let me keep going," Zielinski said in his postgame interview on ESPN+. "Our center-back played me into the pocket. I took a touch around my defender, knew I could beat him for pace … and felt confident to be able to take that one on. It was a special moment."

The Lions carried that momentum into the second half, putting the match out of reach with a pair of insurance goals inside a four-minute window.

In the 60th minute, Andres Garcia redeemed an earlier missed chance by pressing down the right flank. After receiving a lead pass from Will Case, Garcia broke into the right side of the penalty area and drove a low, left-footed strike inside the near post to double the lead to 2-0.

Just over three minutes later, the Lions put together a clinical team sequence to put the game out of reach. Henning Myrvang gained control near the left corner flag and slid a pass across to Andrew Hilton II at the left edge of the 18-yard box. Hilton delivered a clean one-touch centering pass to Joshua Sosa near the penalty spot. Sosa brought the ball down with a single touch before firing low to his right past the goalkeeper to extend the margin to 3-0.

Columbia's defense closed out the remaining minutes efficiently to seal the clean sheet. Goalkeeper Aris Taki, who was named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season on Monday, recorded three second-half saves to complete his fifth shutout of the year.

Columbia travels to Dartmouth (3-4-4, 1-1-1 Ivy) for an Ivy League contest on Saturday. Kickoff in Hanover, New Hampshire, is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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