Tuesday, October 27
New York, N.Y.
7:00 p.m.
Columbia
vs
Hofstra
Joshua Sosa
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Stockton Photo, Inc.
10/26/2026 4:47:00 PM | Men's Soccer
NEW YORK — The Columbia men's soccer team (4-4-4) will host Hofstra (9-3-4) Tuesday night at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium. Kickoff for the 2026 home finale is scheduled for 7 p.m.
GAME COVERAGE
Fans can stream Tuesday's game live on ESPN+. Live stats are available of GoColumbiaLions.com. In-game updates will also be provided on the @CULionsMSOC social media accounts.
THE SERIES
Columbia leads the all-time series, 16-7-4, against Hofstra. Despite their history of success, the Lions have lost four straight to the Pride, including a 2-1 defeat last season in Long Island. Columbia's last series victory came Oct. 30, 2018 at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium by a score of 4-0.
TAKI AMONG THE NATION'S TOP KEEPERS
A native of Famagusta, Cyprus, Aris Taki continues to be near the top of the NCAA statistical rankings. Entering the week, he ranks No. 12 in goals-against average (0.700), No. 17 in save percentage (82.1%) and No. 27 in total shutouts (5). To qualify for the rankings, goalkeepers must have played in at least 50 percent of their team's total minutes.
Taki has earned two Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week awards this season, last taking home the honors for games played Oct. 5-11. He helped lead the Lions to a pair of home Ivy League draws against Brown, 1-1, and reigning champion Princeton, 1-1, making seven combined saves across the two matches.
After debuting on September 9, Taki put together a streak of 397 consecutive minutes without allowing a goal before surrendering the first of his career at Harvard on October 3. The shutout streak was the longest by a Columbia keeper since Dylan Castanheira '19CC posted five consecutive shutouts in the 2017 season.
Taki and the Columbia back line's string of shutouts helped the Lions put together a five-match unbeaten streak (Sept. 5-22). It was the longest such streak since the Lions won five straight matches in 2018. The run included a three-game winning streak, all on the road, over Fordham (1-0), Manhattan (2-0), and Temple (1-0). It was the first time Columbia won three straight matches that all came on the road since 2016.
JACK ON THE ATTACK
Senior midfielder Jack McDaid has a team-leading four goals and 12 total points this season. Entering the week, he ranks No. 3 in the Ivy League in points per game (1.00), No. 4 in total points (12), No. 5 in total assists (4) and No. 5 in goals (4).
McDaid scored the game-winning goal in the 88th minute to lift the Lions over Temple, 1-0, on Sept. 15. He has scored in three of Columbia's 12 matches, including a five-point performance back on September 5 in a 3-3 draw against Fairfield. McDaid's five points in a single match are the most by a Lion since John Denis had five in a 6-1 Columbia victory over Harvard on Nov. 10, 2019.
COLUMBIA IN THE NCAA TEAM RANKINGS (TOP 50)
- No. 1 in the NCAA in fewest fouls committed per game (7.42)
- No. 32 in the shutout percentage (41.7%)
SOSA BREAKS THROUGH (OCT. 10)
First-year midfielder Joshua Sosa scored his first collegiate goal as part of a 1-1 draw against Princeton (Oct. 10). The goal came in the third minute, initiated from the left side by Henning Myrvang. He found Jack McDaid in the center, who quickly shifted the ball out wide to Stepan Kapranov on the right. Kapranov sent a crisp cross back into the center of the 6-yard box for Sosa to finish from close range.
Sosa is the sixth different goal scorer for the Lions this season and the second to score their first collegiate goal (Ethan Heyward).
ZIELINSKI SCORES A LATE BEAUTY (OCT. 6)
Trailing 1-0 entering the 84th minute against Brown (Oct. 6), the Lions rallied for a late equalizer from junior midfielder Luke Zielinski. Senior defender Joe McDaid sent a long ball over the top with Zielinski sprinting toward the box. Zielinski got in behind the back line and met the shot first time, blasting it across the face of goal to level the score. However, the goal was initially ruled offside by the assistant referee. Upon video review, the head referee determined it was a good goal, marking the second goal of Zielinski's career and his first since last October 28 against Fordham.
REMEMBERING ROCCO B. COMMISSO
The Columbia men's and women's soccer programs are honoring the memory of Rocco B. Commisso '71SEAS '75BUS throughout the 2026 season. Both programs are featuring his initials, "RBC," on their kits that they have worn throughout the year.
Rocco B. Commisso, who passed away on Jan. 16, 2026, at age 76, was a standout Columbia men's soccer player, longtime supporter of Columbia Athletics and accomplished business leader. A three-year All-Ivy League honoree as both a defensive and offensive player, he helped lead the Lions to winning records in each of his four seasons. As co-captain of the 1970 team, he helped guide Columbia to its first NCAA Tournament appearance.
Commisso went on to become a successful entrepreneur, founding Mediacom Communications in 1995 and building it into one of the nation's largest cable television providers. He remained closely connected to soccer throughout his life, including ownership roles with the New York Cosmos and Italian Serie A club ACF Fiorentina.
2026 SEASON PREVIEW NOTES
THE 2026 CAPTAINS
Columbia men's soccer announced that its team captains for the 2026 season are seniors Jackson ten Oever, Jack McDaid and Joe McDaid. Ten Oever is an All-Ivy League Honorable Mention and two-time CSC Academic All-District selection who has been a mainstay in the starting lineup throughout his career. Joe McDaid and Jack McDaid are in their third year at Columbia after playing together at Maryland as freshmen. Jack earned Second Team All-Ivy League distinction last year, registering three goals and two assists out of his midfield position. The trio brings veteran leadership, defensive toughness, and proven capability in key moments heading into their senior seasons with the Lions.
THE NEWCOMERS
Head coach Michael Casper and his staff welcomed a talented class of newcomers to the 2026 roster. The balanced incoming class includes two goalkeepers, two defenders, two midfielders and two forwards.
Speaking on the incoming class, Casper stated, "We want players that fit the model of what we want Columbia men's soccer to look like – hard-working and technical with the ability to become difference makers."
The new group of Lions includes impactful fresh faces across the pitch, including additions to the defense, midfield, and forward lines, who will push for immediate playing time and elevate the competitive environment.
YEAR FOUR UNDER CASPER
In what is now his fourth season leading the Lions, head coach Michael Casper will look to turn the corner and bring the program back to prominence. With an experienced returning foundation and an energetic incoming class, Columbia looks to start the 2026 campaign strong. In his season preview, Casper talked about the team's competitiveness against the teams that qualified for the 2025 Ivy League Tournament. Columbia earned a convincing 3-1 win over Harvard, a 2-2 draw against Penn, and played highly competitive matches against nationally-ranked Cornell and Princeton.
"To think that you can get a win and a tie off of the top four and be in the games that the other two, you're not far away," he stated. "We need to be better with our finishing this fall, but when I think about the way that we played, there was a lot of improvement.
"I think this group of guys is going to have their hands full in replacing some of that leadership and … ability that
last year's class brought to the field. But I'm excited about the opportunity that they have."
Fans can catch the full interview with Coach Casper ahead of the start of the season on GoColumbiaLions.TV.
ABOUT COLUMBIA MEN'S SOCCER
The 2026 season marks the 79th varsity season of men's soccer at Columbia University. The program was established in 1906 but discontinued as a varsity sport from 1916-57. The program regained its varsity status in 1957 and played 63 straight seasons until the 2020 campaign was canceled due to COVID.
Columbia men's soccer came to prominence in the late '70s, advancing to their first NCAA Tournament in 1978 before going all the way to the Final Four in 1979. After multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and Ivy League championships through the early '80s, the Lions made a run to the NCAA Tournament Championship Game in 1983. Columbia defeated UConn, 4-0, in the Final Four to take on Indiana for the National Championship. The Hoosiers outlasted Columbia, 1-0, in overtime.
Columbia owns 10 Ivy League championships and 13 NCAA Tournament appearances all-time.
FOLLOW THE LIONS:
For the latest on Columbia men's soccer, be sure to follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@CULionsMSOC), on Facebook (ColumbiaMensSoccer), or by visiting GoColumbiaLions.com.
GAME COVERAGE
Fans can stream Tuesday's game live on ESPN+. Live stats are available of GoColumbiaLions.com. In-game updates will also be provided on the @CULionsMSOC social media accounts.
THE SERIES
Columbia leads the all-time series, 16-7-4, against Hofstra. Despite their history of success, the Lions have lost four straight to the Pride, including a 2-1 defeat last season in Long Island. Columbia's last series victory came Oct. 30, 2018 at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium by a score of 4-0.
TAKI AMONG THE NATION'S TOP KEEPERS
A native of Famagusta, Cyprus, Aris Taki continues to be near the top of the NCAA statistical rankings. Entering the week, he ranks No. 12 in goals-against average (0.700), No. 17 in save percentage (82.1%) and No. 27 in total shutouts (5). To qualify for the rankings, goalkeepers must have played in at least 50 percent of their team's total minutes.
Taki has earned two Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week awards this season, last taking home the honors for games played Oct. 5-11. He helped lead the Lions to a pair of home Ivy League draws against Brown, 1-1, and reigning champion Princeton, 1-1, making seven combined saves across the two matches.
After debuting on September 9, Taki put together a streak of 397 consecutive minutes without allowing a goal before surrendering the first of his career at Harvard on October 3. The shutout streak was the longest by a Columbia keeper since Dylan Castanheira '19CC posted five consecutive shutouts in the 2017 season.
Taki and the Columbia back line's string of shutouts helped the Lions put together a five-match unbeaten streak (Sept. 5-22). It was the longest such streak since the Lions won five straight matches in 2018. The run included a three-game winning streak, all on the road, over Fordham (1-0), Manhattan (2-0), and Temple (1-0). It was the first time Columbia won three straight matches that all came on the road since 2016.
JACK ON THE ATTACK
Senior midfielder Jack McDaid has a team-leading four goals and 12 total points this season. Entering the week, he ranks No. 3 in the Ivy League in points per game (1.00), No. 4 in total points (12), No. 5 in total assists (4) and No. 5 in goals (4).
McDaid scored the game-winning goal in the 88th minute to lift the Lions over Temple, 1-0, on Sept. 15. He has scored in three of Columbia's 12 matches, including a five-point performance back on September 5 in a 3-3 draw against Fairfield. McDaid's five points in a single match are the most by a Lion since John Denis had five in a 6-1 Columbia victory over Harvard on Nov. 10, 2019.
COLUMBIA IN THE NCAA TEAM RANKINGS (TOP 50)
- No. 1 in the NCAA in fewest fouls committed per game (7.42)
- No. 32 in the shutout percentage (41.7%)
SOSA BREAKS THROUGH (OCT. 10)
First-year midfielder Joshua Sosa scored his first collegiate goal as part of a 1-1 draw against Princeton (Oct. 10). The goal came in the third minute, initiated from the left side by Henning Myrvang. He found Jack McDaid in the center, who quickly shifted the ball out wide to Stepan Kapranov on the right. Kapranov sent a crisp cross back into the center of the 6-yard box for Sosa to finish from close range.
Sosa is the sixth different goal scorer for the Lions this season and the second to score their first collegiate goal (Ethan Heyward).
ZIELINSKI SCORES A LATE BEAUTY (OCT. 6)
Trailing 1-0 entering the 84th minute against Brown (Oct. 6), the Lions rallied for a late equalizer from junior midfielder Luke Zielinski. Senior defender Joe McDaid sent a long ball over the top with Zielinski sprinting toward the box. Zielinski got in behind the back line and met the shot first time, blasting it across the face of goal to level the score. However, the goal was initially ruled offside by the assistant referee. Upon video review, the head referee determined it was a good goal, marking the second goal of Zielinski's career and his first since last October 28 against Fordham.
REMEMBERING ROCCO B. COMMISSO
The Columbia men's and women's soccer programs are honoring the memory of Rocco B. Commisso '71SEAS '75BUS throughout the 2026 season. Both programs are featuring his initials, "RBC," on their kits that they have worn throughout the year.
Rocco B. Commisso, who passed away on Jan. 16, 2026, at age 76, was a standout Columbia men's soccer player, longtime supporter of Columbia Athletics and accomplished business leader. A three-year All-Ivy League honoree as both a defensive and offensive player, he helped lead the Lions to winning records in each of his four seasons. As co-captain of the 1970 team, he helped guide Columbia to its first NCAA Tournament appearance.
Commisso went on to become a successful entrepreneur, founding Mediacom Communications in 1995 and building it into one of the nation's largest cable television providers. He remained closely connected to soccer throughout his life, including ownership roles with the New York Cosmos and Italian Serie A club ACF Fiorentina.
2026 SEASON PREVIEW NOTES
THE 2026 CAPTAINS
Columbia men's soccer announced that its team captains for the 2026 season are seniors Jackson ten Oever, Jack McDaid and Joe McDaid. Ten Oever is an All-Ivy League Honorable Mention and two-time CSC Academic All-District selection who has been a mainstay in the starting lineup throughout his career. Joe McDaid and Jack McDaid are in their third year at Columbia after playing together at Maryland as freshmen. Jack earned Second Team All-Ivy League distinction last year, registering three goals and two assists out of his midfield position. The trio brings veteran leadership, defensive toughness, and proven capability in key moments heading into their senior seasons with the Lions.
THE NEWCOMERS
Head coach Michael Casper and his staff welcomed a talented class of newcomers to the 2026 roster. The balanced incoming class includes two goalkeepers, two defenders, two midfielders and two forwards.
Speaking on the incoming class, Casper stated, "We want players that fit the model of what we want Columbia men's soccer to look like – hard-working and technical with the ability to become difference makers."
The new group of Lions includes impactful fresh faces across the pitch, including additions to the defense, midfield, and forward lines, who will push for immediate playing time and elevate the competitive environment.
YEAR FOUR UNDER CASPER
In what is now his fourth season leading the Lions, head coach Michael Casper will look to turn the corner and bring the program back to prominence. With an experienced returning foundation and an energetic incoming class, Columbia looks to start the 2026 campaign strong. In his season preview, Casper talked about the team's competitiveness against the teams that qualified for the 2025 Ivy League Tournament. Columbia earned a convincing 3-1 win over Harvard, a 2-2 draw against Penn, and played highly competitive matches against nationally-ranked Cornell and Princeton.
"To think that you can get a win and a tie off of the top four and be in the games that the other two, you're not far away," he stated. "We need to be better with our finishing this fall, but when I think about the way that we played, there was a lot of improvement.
"I think this group of guys is going to have their hands full in replacing some of that leadership and … ability that
last year's class brought to the field. But I'm excited about the opportunity that they have."
Fans can catch the full interview with Coach Casper ahead of the start of the season on GoColumbiaLions.TV.
ABOUT COLUMBIA MEN'S SOCCER
The 2026 season marks the 79th varsity season of men's soccer at Columbia University. The program was established in 1906 but discontinued as a varsity sport from 1916-57. The program regained its varsity status in 1957 and played 63 straight seasons until the 2020 campaign was canceled due to COVID.
Columbia men's soccer came to prominence in the late '70s, advancing to their first NCAA Tournament in 1978 before going all the way to the Final Four in 1979. After multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and Ivy League championships through the early '80s, the Lions made a run to the NCAA Tournament Championship Game in 1983. Columbia defeated UConn, 4-0, in the Final Four to take on Indiana for the National Championship. The Hoosiers outlasted Columbia, 1-0, in overtime.
Columbia owns 10 Ivy League championships and 13 NCAA Tournament appearances all-time.
FOLLOW THE LIONS:
For the latest on Columbia men's soccer, be sure to follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@CULionsMSOC), on Facebook (ColumbiaMensSoccer), or by visiting GoColumbiaLions.com.
Players Mentioned
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