ITHACA, N.Y. – Cornell men's soccer will look to wrap up 2014 on a winning-note when it travels to the Big Apple to take on Columbia on Saturday. The Big Red has dropped its last two contests against the two teams that sit at the top of the Ivy League in Princeton and Dartmouth. Cornell can assure a 10-win season for the second time over the past three years with a victory over Columbia.
 
Cornell Big Red (9-6-1; 2-4-0 Ivy League) at Columbia Lions (7-7-1; 2-3-1 Ivy League)
Saturday, November 15, 2014 | 4:00 PM | New York, N.Y. – Commisso Soccer Stadium
All-Time Series: Cornell Trails, 21-31-9
Last Meeting (2013): Cornell Win, 3-0
Live Stats | Live Video (ILDN) | Live Audio (ILDN)
 
SCOUTING CORNELL
 
Big Red Headlines
Cornell had a rough time of things last Saturday in the team's final home game of the season. While the Big Red rode the emotion of seven seniors playing their final game at Berman Field, the victory was not meant to be against the Ivy League's top team in Dartmouth. The Big Green came out determined to control its own destiny heading into the final weekend of play, attacking Cornell with an up-tempo offensive game plan. Despite a heroic effort from Cornell keeper Zach Zagorski, Dartmouth was able to capitalize on some chances to win the 3-0 decision.
 
About Head Coach Jaro Zawislan
Zawislan enters his sixth season at Cornell having established himself as one of the top coaches in the Ivy League during his short tenure. After taking over a program that was 1-15 the season before his appointment as head coach, Zawislan has transformed Big Red men's soccer into a consistent winner and a national presence in NCAA Division I. In his first five seasons on East Hill his teams have posted at least .500 winning percentages four times, while he has led Cornell to three consecutive winning seasons. He also directed the Big Red to its first Ivy League title since 1995 and first outright title since 1977 in 2012. His coaching record currently sits at 50-29-10 and his current .618 winning percentage is the second best mark in program history.
 
Zawislan is a graduate of Clemson University '93, while he was a four-year starting goalkeeper on the varsity soccer team. Upon his graduation he played professionally both in the United States and his native Poland, before pursuing a career in coaching. He made assistant coaching stops at Stanford, Creighton and Syracuse, before being named Cornell's 11^th head coach in 2009.
 
Last Meeting (2013): Columbia
Cornell dispatched Columbia 3-0 at Berman Field in last season's final game. The Big Red jumped on the Lions in the 23^rd minute as Vincent Brunetti scored his first collegiate goal. He corralled the ball at the top of the box and fired a rising howitzer that stayed just under the crossbar. Ben Feldman upped the advantage to 2-0 just after halftime, also scoring his first collegiate marker on a loose ball scramble in the box. Sebastian Scales capped the scoring in the 68^th minute with a sensational individual run down the left flank, before cutting to the middle of the box and beating Columbia keeper Luke Rossi to the lower right of the cage for the goal, also the first of his Big Red career.
 
Recent Series: Columbia
Since Zawislan took over the Big Red in 2009, Cornell has enjoyed complete ownership of its series with Columbia. The Big Red has never lost to the Lions under Zawislan, compiling a 3-0-2 record. The team enters Saturday's matchup riding a two-game winning streak against its New York State rival. Under Zawislan, Cornell has allowed only one goal against the Lions, while it has outscored the Columbia 6-1 in the five matchups.  
 
Special Senior Class
The group of seven seniors who comprise the Class of 2015 have witnessed unprecedented success over their playing careers on East Hill. Over four years, the team has posted the third most wins of any class in program history (40). The Class of 2015 currently boasts a 40-15-11 (.689) record overall, trailing just the Class of '78 team that posted a 41-15-7 (.706). Over the last 35 years, only the Class of '99 team has posted more victories (43). This group of seniors also played an integral role on the 2012 Big Red squad that captured the program's first Ivy League title since 1995 and first outright title since 1977. The Big Red has set new records for team defense in each of the past two seasons and has the possibility to tie last season's record setting mark again this year. Several individuals will finish their careers on Saturday, while several will find themselves in the all-time record book in various categories.
 
Dynamic Defense
Cornell conceded three goals for the second time this season against Dartmouth last Saturday. Trailing from early on in the contest, the Big Red was forced to take some chances on the backend in order to send numbers forward for an equalizer. Dartmouth took advantage, tallying two second half goals. On the season, Cornell has allowed just 11 goals and has the opportunity to tie last year's program record for least amount of goals allowed in a season with a shutout against the Lions. The Big Red currently ranks eighth in NCAA Division I with a 0.67 team goals against average. It ranks fifth in shutout percentage, posting a clean sheet in 63% of the team's fixtures this season.
 
Parsimonious Paws in Net
Senior keeper Zach Zagorski was bested three times in the loss to Dartmouth last Saturday. It was only the third time this season that a team was able to score multiple goals on the senior. The stat-line was a bit deceiving as Zagorski played an excellent with several spectacular saves, finishing with a season-high seven. Despite the loss, Zagorski has posted a historic season, moving into first place on the program's all-time single-season shutout list (9).
 
Zagorski currently leads the Ivy League for all eligible keepers in goals against average (0.688) and save percentage (.845). He currently ranks in the top-15 in NCAA Division I in two categories; checking in at seventh in save percentage and 15^th goals against average. His 60 saves are third most in the Ivy League. Zagorski now has 14 career shutouts; passing Quinn O'Sullivan '95 for third place on the program's all-time list.
 
SCOUTING COLUMBIA
 
Lion Headlines
Columbia was the tough luck loser last Saturday, as Harvard knocked the Lions from Ivy League title contention in a 1-0 decision in Cambridge, Mass. The Lions held Harvard to no shots on goal through the 90 minutes of regulation; however, the Crimson was awarded a penalty kick opportunity with 6:30 remaining in the game due to a handball in the box. Tim Schmoll potted the opportunity and Evan Mendez was able to make the lead stand up for the Crimson, making eight saves in the contest.
 
About Head Coach Kevin Anderson
Like Cornell head coach Jaro Zawislan, Anderson took over the helm of the Lions prior to the 2009 season. He has built Columbia into a formidable foe in Ivy League play. He has led the Lions to its only two winning-seasons in the last decade in 2011 and 2013. His current record stands at 32-48-14.
 
Scoring Depth
Similar to Dartmouth, Columbia gets scoring throughout its lineup. Nine players have scored at least one goal for the Lions this season, while 11 players have tallied at least one point. Francisco Agrest leads the squad with eight points (3 goals – 2 assists), while Rhys Williams forms a formidable one-two punch up top with seven points (3 goals – 1 assist). Antonio Matarazzo is the squad's best creator in the offensive third, leading the team with three assists.