Friday, August 29
Bethlehem, Pa.
6:00 PM
Lehigh University
2-0-1, 0-0-0
2
vs
1
Columbia
0-1-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Columbia
1
0
1
Lehigh
0
2
2
Photo by: Olivia Link
Back Line Delivers Two Goals In 2-1 Win Over Columbia In Home Opener
8/29/2025 9:19:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Trailing 1-0 after 20 minutes the Lehigh men's soccer team got a pair of goals from its back line in the second half to rally past Columbia 2-1 Friday night at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Playing a man down for the final 12 minutes, sophomore Paul Smajlaj netted his first career goal in the 81st minute to lift the Mountain Hawks (2-0-1) to their second victory of the week.
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"It's always tough to win games against Ivy League teams," said Lehigh head coach Dean Koski. "It's still early in the season and we're missing two or three starters, so for guys to come out and not have a great first half by our standards, and then to fight back and get the tying goal and then get the game winner while down a man is great for the team and good for their confidence."
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Columbia struck first in the 20th minute as Henning Myrvang took a long pass from Joe McDaid, dribbled into the box and scored on a right-footed attempt from the left side of the box. The Lions took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
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Lehigh had a quality chance at an equalizer early in the second half but Columbia's Alexander O'Brien got a hand on a shot from the top of the box by sophomore Shea Coughlin.
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The Mountain Hawks broke through in the 63rd minute as senior Sam Davis slid onto a loose ball just outside the six-yard box and slotted a shot home to tie the game at 1-1.
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In a game where the teams combined for nine yellow cards, junior Trey Sheeler was shown a second yellow in the 78th minute, leaving Lehigh a man down for the remainder of the contest.
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"We have to work on our discipline," Koski said. "Too many yellows, but I'm happy for the guys because they worked for this result."
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Lehigh earned a corner kick late in the 80th minute, with the corner eventually pinballing off a pair of Columbia defenders at the far post, before Smaljaj came in and knocked it home to give Lehigh the lead.
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"When you get goals from your backs it's always a bonus," Koski said. "Both Paulie and Sam are really good in and around the box on corner kicks. We train it all the time. It's nice to see them get some goals out of that. Usually, we have a man of the match for wins, but tonight it was definitely men of the match because of a good team effort."
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Shots favored the visitors 18-13 but Lehigh had a 6-4 edge in shots on goal. Columbia had an 8-5 edge in corner kicks. The Lions were whistled for 14 fouls to Lehigh's 11.
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Sophomore Anton Kinnunen made three saves for the Mountain Hawks, while O'Brien stopped four shots for the Lions.
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Columbia was playing its season opener.
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The Mountain Hawks are back home Tuesday night to host Old Dominion at 6 p.m.
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Like Lehigh men's soccer on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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"It's always tough to win games against Ivy League teams," said Lehigh head coach Dean Koski. "It's still early in the season and we're missing two or three starters, so for guys to come out and not have a great first half by our standards, and then to fight back and get the tying goal and then get the game winner while down a man is great for the team and good for their confidence."
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Columbia struck first in the 20th minute as Henning Myrvang took a long pass from Joe McDaid, dribbled into the box and scored on a right-footed attempt from the left side of the box. The Lions took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
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Lehigh had a quality chance at an equalizer early in the second half but Columbia's Alexander O'Brien got a hand on a shot from the top of the box by sophomore Shea Coughlin.
Â
The Mountain Hawks broke through in the 63rd minute as senior Sam Davis slid onto a loose ball just outside the six-yard box and slotted a shot home to tie the game at 1-1.
Â
In a game where the teams combined for nine yellow cards, junior Trey Sheeler was shown a second yellow in the 78th minute, leaving Lehigh a man down for the remainder of the contest.
Â
"We have to work on our discipline," Koski said. "Too many yellows, but I'm happy for the guys because they worked for this result."
Â
Lehigh earned a corner kick late in the 80th minute, with the corner eventually pinballing off a pair of Columbia defenders at the far post, before Smaljaj came in and knocked it home to give Lehigh the lead.
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"When you get goals from your backs it's always a bonus," Koski said. "Both Paulie and Sam are really good in and around the box on corner kicks. We train it all the time. It's nice to see them get some goals out of that. Usually, we have a man of the match for wins, but tonight it was definitely men of the match because of a good team effort."
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Shots favored the visitors 18-13 but Lehigh had a 6-4 edge in shots on goal. Columbia had an 8-5 edge in corner kicks. The Lions were whistled for 14 fouls to Lehigh's 11.
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Sophomore Anton Kinnunen made three saves for the Mountain Hawks, while O'Brien stopped four shots for the Lions.
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Columbia was playing its season opener.
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The Mountain Hawks are back home Tuesday night to host Old Dominion at 6 p.m.
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Like Lehigh men's soccer on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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Team Stats
COL
LEH
Goals
1
2
Shots
18
13
Shots on Goal
4
6
Saves
4
3
Corners
8
5
Fouls
14
11
Scoring Plays
Henning Myrvang (1)
Assisted By: Joe McDaid
GOAL by COL Myrvang, Henning Assist by McDaid, Joe.
19:57
Sam Davis (1)
Assisted By: Trey Sheeler , Yusef Gueye
GOAL by LEH Davis, Sam Assist by Sheeler, Trey and Gueye, Yusef.
62:24
Paul Smajlaj (1)
Assisted By: Giacomo Zizza
GOAL by LEH Smajlaj, Paul Assist by Zizza, Giacomo.
80:18
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
5
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's Soccer
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