The Columbia men’s soccer team will have the opportunity to snap a three-game losing streak tonight when the team takes the field at home against Lehigh.

The momentum that the Lions had built up leading in to the Ivy season has all but disappeared. Despite winning its final two nonconference matchups, Columbia has lost all three of its conference matches to date, placing it last in the current league tables. All three of their Ancient Eight opponents have outshot the Lions, and the team has struggled to get sufficient possession time.

With that said, today’s nonconference match—the Light Blue’s second-to-last non-Ivy game of the season—against Lehigh may be just what Columbia needs to snap out of its funk. The Mountain Hawks have been in a rut of their own recently, dropping their last three matches against Maryland, Holy Cross, and American University. Lehigh has struggled to regain its former form—the team had notched a victory against Rutgers and a tie against Penn earlier in the season.

The Mountain Hawks are led on offense by sophomore forward Kyle Evans, who has scored more goals for Lehigh than the rest of his teammates combined. Evans’ efforts have been aided by junior Jim Taranto, a Virginia transfer who has assisted on five Lehigh goals this season. In net for the Mountain Hawks is junior Brian Lee. Lee was stellar for the Hawks earlier in the season, but has allowed two goals in each of the team’s last three losses.

Players to watch for on the Columbia side of the ball include senior midfielder Tom Heinbockel, who has scored two of the three Columbia goals in Ivy play. Also of note is speedy freshman forward Bayo Adafin, the frequent focal point of the Columbia attack. Freshman Hayden Johns has also been a bright spot for the Light Blue this season, having recorded two goals, including the game winner against American.
The game will start at 7 p.m. tonight at Columbia Soccer Stadium.