NEW YORK – The Long Island University men's soccer team put forth an impressive all-around performance Monday night at the Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium as it defeated Columbia University, 3-1.
LIU's three goals, four assists and ten points were all season-highs. Freshman
Papa Ndoye scored for LIU along with junior
Camarri Johnson and freshman
Ryan Grande, who both scored their first goals for the Sharks. Sophomore
Athanasios Coutroumpas tallied two assists while grauduate student
Stefan Faistenauer and sophomore
Anton Ocampo had one. In goal, senior
Matias Pesallaccia finished with five saves.
Ndoye opened the match on a high note, using his athleticism to score an incredible goal inside the second minute and give the Sharks a 1-0 advantage. Ocampo sent a long ball from the right wing to the top of the box where a Columbia defender misread the header and Ndoye was able to capitalize, sending the ball to the top left with his left foot in spectacular fashion.
Parish almost made it a 2-0 contest in the seventh minute, but the Lions' goalkeeper was able to make the save in the bottom left. Ndoye would miss right in the 19
th minute then in the 23
rd minute Pesallaccia would help LIU keeps it lead by making a save in the bottom right.
The Lions would make it a 1-1 match in the 35
th minute and given that neither side scored for the remainder of the half, the Sharks and Lions went into halftime with the score knotted 1-1.
The second half began with more impressive defensive play from the Sharks and Pesallaccia as he made a save in the bottom left in the 49
th minute. Ndoye would send a shot out to the top left then Tuart would miss high in the 53
rd and 54
th minutes.
In the 61
st minute the Sharks finally broke through as Grande scored the first goal of his career after receiving assists from Faistenauer and Coutroumpas. Coutroumpas continued to be a threat, recording shots in the 64
th and 69
th minutes that missed high and to the right.
Johnson would expand the Sharks lead to 3-1 in the 72
nd minute, firing one past the Lions' goalkeeper from the top right of the box after receiving an assist from Coutroumpas.
The Sharks were able to keep the Lions scoreless for the rest of the match, holding on for the 3-1 victory.
Up Next
LIU opens NEC play against Saint Francis University (2-3) on Friday, September 27 at 3 p.m. at the LIU Soccer Park.
