Oct. 29, 2005
NEW YORK - Alex Munns scored what proved to be the game-winning goal late in the first half to propel Yale to a 1-0 win against Columbia, despite several late chances for the Lions.
Yale (8-2-4, 3-1-1 Ivy) took a 1-0 lead in the 41st minute when Gage Hills floated a ball to the left side that Munns found and fired a hard, low shot that beat Lion keeper Alex Maffeo (Morristown, N.J.) to put the Bulldogs ahead.
Columbia (3-10, 0-4 Ivy) had several scoring chances in the first half, created by midfielders Chris Wales (North Cheam, England) and Scott Waddell (Beltsville, Md.). Its best chance came late in the first half when Waddell and Wales connected on a series of passes in the midfield. Wales lofted a ball to Tom Smith (Brighton, England) on the right side, who fired a beautiful cross into the middle that found the foot of John Mulhern (Smithtown, N.Y.), who had a shot from the center of the box, 10 yards in, that went just high.
Much of the early part of the second half was played in the midfield, with both teams holding the ball for an even amount of time. Smith created another chance in the 74th minute, playing a well-timed cross to his head, and flicking one that Yale keeper Erik Geiger, seven yards out of the box, corralled before it went past him.
Columbia appeared to have momentum in its favor late in regulation and created a great chance in the 88th minute. Scott Strickland (Dallas, Texas), a second-half sub, had a golden opportunity, pouncing on a loose ball in front, firing a shot from 10 yards that grazed the cross bar and went over for a goal kick, which was Columbia's best and last scoring chance.
Maffeo made two saves for Columbia and Geiger stopped six shots for Yale, which was outshot by the Lions, 15-14.
The Lions return to action on Tuesday, November 1 at Adelphi at 3 p.m.
