Men's Soccer Loses to Columbia, 1-0
Oct. 2, 2007
WASHINGTON - The American University men's soccer team outshot visiting Columbia University Tuesday at Reeves Field, 24-13, but the Lions were the only team to notch a goal, defeating AU, 1-0.
The field was tilted in favor of the Eagles for much of the game. AU almost doubled up the Lions' shots in the first period, 13-7, but Columbia got a break in the 20th minute. Columbia's Bayo Adafin fired a shot at the goal that AU keeper Chris Sedlak (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale) saved. However, when Sedlak tried to pull the ball back into himself, he lost control of it and it rolled back out to the Lions' Hayden Johns, who fired a low shot that Sedlak got a hand on, but it rolled toward the net. An American defender appeared to have knocked it off the line before it entered the goal, but the official signaled a goal and the Lions took a 1-0 lead.
Though that was all Columbia would need for the victory, AU was not without its chances. The Eagles peppered shots in the direction of CU keeper Michael Testa, but he was up to the task. However, although AU had an 11-shot advantage in the game, just six Eagles' attempts were on net, compared to seven shots on goal for Columbia. Testa finished with six saves.
AU's best chances at knotting up the game came in the final seconds. Freshman Daniel Shannon (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) blasted a shot at the goal with 50 seconds left that was blocked. Off that rebound, Jason Kuykendall (Fairfax, Va./Madison) corralled the ball and again blasted another shot. His shot again was blocked. After that, the Eagles had two more good chances, both on corner kicks, but with 10 Lion defenders in the box, the Eagles could not get a shot through and Testa nabbed a crossing pass with 10 seconds left to run out the time.
American will get three days off before it returns to Patriot League action on Oct. 6 when it hosts Lafayette College at 1 p.m. at Reeves Field. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for youths and free for children under two and students with ID. Call (202) 885-TIXX for tickets. If you are unable to make it to the contest, listen live on AUEagles.com by clicking on the Eagles All*Access button on the front page.
