Men's soccer needs win, help to earn title

The Light Blue men’s soccer team (8-7-1, 4-2 Ivy) travels upstate to Ithaca for a must-win game against Cornell (8-2-5, 3-1-2 Ivy) this weekend. While the Lions know nothing but a win is enough to keep the possibility of winning the Ivy Championship alive, they would also need Brown and Dartmouth to tie each other in order for the title to come to Morningside.

All four teams—the Bears, the Big Green, the Big Red, and the Lions—have a chance to win or share the Ivy League title depending on both their own and the other results. But regardless of what happens in Providence between the Bears and the Big Green tomorrow afternoon, Columbia will be looking for a win in the final regular season game of 2011, since it could allow them to qualify for the NCAA tournament.

“Cornell is our championship game for the season and we’re treating it that way,” senior captain Mike Mazzullo said. “There’s a buzz of excitement around the team and an air of confidence.”

The Lions have a chance to establish a 5-2 Ivy record, which would at the very least secure second place in the conference—a record and a finish that have not been achieved since the Ivy-winning squad of 1993 finished 6-1.

“Like any week of game preparation, there were multiple factors to balance,” head coach Kevin Anderson said. “Saturday provides each of us with another opportunity to earn our spot and step up to the standard that has been set. We will all do our part to ensure a 90-plus-minute performance that will accent our strengths, respect our opponent, and provide scenarios where our players will be required to showcase their individual talents—those things that make each of them special.”

The Lions won their last Ivy clash 2-1 against Harvard on Nov. 5. Senior center back Ronnie Shaban scored twice, from a penalty and a corner, in the first half to put the Light Blue ahead. Even though the Crimson pulled to within a goal 10 minutes into the second period, the Lions held on for the win. (Shaban is a sports columnist for Spectator.)

Shaban moved joint-second, with sophomore forward Henning Sauerbier, in the Columbia scoring charts with four goals. They both trail junior forward Will Stamatis, who has found the back of the net six times this season.

“We approach every game as if it’s our biggest game, and that’s really true now,” Stamatis said. “Everything’s on this Saturday—rankings, other results, none of that matters. We have to do everything we can to make sure that we’re taking care of our business. But I haven’t scored in the last two wins, so that speaks to the depth and quality of our team.”

The Big Red recovered from an opening-day 3-1 loss to Niagara University to set a school record, a 13-game undefeated streak. The run ended last weekend when Cornell fell 3-1 in Hanover against Dartmouth. The Big Red are now on a three-match winless streak, having tied 1-1 with Brown and Princeton before falling to the Big Green. Sophomore forward Daniel Haber, who represented Canada at the Maccabiah Games in Israel in 2009, leads the Cornell attack with eight goals and four assists this season.

The Lions and the Big Red played out a goalless double-overtime tie at Columbia Soccer Stadium last season. Columbia had the better of Cornell for the first 80 minutes, but Light Blue goalkeeper Alex Aurrichio was sent off in the 80th minute after being given a red card.

The Light Blue will be hoping that this time is different.

“It’s a great opportunity for our team,” Mazzullo said. “The simple reality is we must go to Cornell and win—so the excitement is mixed with a more serious focus.”

Kick-off in Ithaca is scheduled for 7 p.m. tomorrow, Nov. 12.