The Columbia Men’s Soccer team’s seven-game losing streak comes to an end in their 1-0 victory at home.

I headed up to Baker Athletics Complex on Saturday for my first-ever Columbia sporting event where the Columbia Lions (1-7-0, 1-1-0 Ivy) faced the Yale Bulldogs (4-5-1, 1-1-0 Ivy). I had heard of Columbia’s abysmal school spirit so I was pleasantly surprised to arrive at a fairly packed match, with a mix of students and younger soccer fans eager to watch the game.

The game began with back-and-forth play in the midfield with neither team able to generate any solid offensive possessions. The first shot on goal came in the 14th minute by Jack McDaid (CC ‘27) with a strike from distance blocked in a diving save by Yale’s goalkeeper. The Lions continued to play solid defense with Joe McDaid (CC ‘27) making an important tackle in the 23rd minute to stop a Yale fastbreak and Jackson ten Oever (CC ‘27) preventing any deep downfield Yale possession. The Lions had a good opportunity to score in the 33rd minute from a corner kick as Carmine Falco (CC ‘26) headed the ball toward the goal which was deflected. Both teams scramble for the ball in Yale’s goal area as a second shot by the Lions is also deflected. With two minutes left in the half, Jack McDaid is awarded a free kick that goes just above the goal. Despite the Lions maintaining much of the possessions and the majority of shot attempts, the first half ends scoreless.

Halftime: Columbia 0, Yale 0

The second half begins with much of the same. Columbia does well protecting the ball and maintaining possession but both teams struggle to generate a solid offensive attack. The Lions are awarded two free kicks early in the half but Alesandro Franciosa (CC ‘26) is unable to convert while Ryan Yang (CC ‘26)  shoots it just wide of the goal. Yale’s first shot on goal came in the 79th minute, a header saved by Columbia goalie Dean Kelliher (CC ‘26). A corner kick by Peter Chang (CC ‘28) in the 81st minute leads to an assist from Rafa Romo (SEAS ‘27) to Jackson ten Oever who heads it into the back of the net for the first goal of the match and ten Oever’s first goal at Columbia. Columbia leads 1-0. Kelliher then makes a great save in the 86th minute to shut out Yale and secure Columbia’s first win of the season and first Ivy League win since 2019. 

Fulltime: Columbia 1, Yale 0

After a rocky start to the season, the Columbia Lions have turned themselves around with their first win against Yale. The Columbia Lions look to continue this momentum as they travel to Pennsylvania on Tuesday, October 8 to face Villanova.

Image via Emily Jones