ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell men's soccer program concluded its regular season on Saturday night with a 1-1 double overtime draw against Columbia. Fifth-year midfielder Tyler Bagley scored the lone Big Red goal of the contest on a free kick in the 38th minute of action.
 
"It was a tough one," head coach John Smith said. "I don't think we played particularly well in the first half. I thought in the second half we started creating more chances, but in the second half and in overtime we just couldn't capitalize. Their keeper made some great saves and I think that's been the story of a few games this season. In these moments it comes down to either a defensive mistake or whether your attackers are finishing the chances they get."
 
As a team Cornell (11-3-2, 4-2-1 Ivy) managed to out-shoot Columbia by a 19-5 tally overall and had a massive 9-1 shots on goal advantage. Opposing goalkeepers have stepped up their game against the Big Red this season routinely turning in season-best performances, particularly in Ivy League play. Senior defender Tate Keir, senior forward Charles Touche and Bagley each placed three shots on goal to lead the team.
 
Cornell found the back of the net first, briefly holding a 1-0 lead following a free kick from Bagley in the 38th minute. Bagley increased his season tally to 35 points on 14 goals and seven assists. His 14 goals on the year have him tied for fourth in all of DI, while his 35 points is tied for the nation's lead.
 
Columbia was quick to respond, finding a goal of its own in the 42nd minute. A throw into the box was headed out and volleyed into the back of the net by Will DeNight. DeNight's shot took an odd bounce that prevented Cornell goalkeeper Brady McSwain from getting a good read on it.
 
Cornell placed the only shots on goal in each overtime period, but Columbia goalkeeper Michael Collodi collected two more saves in what was an eight save night.
 
Following the match, Cornell honored it's nine-man senior class. Tyler Bagley, Harry Fuller, Charles Touche, Nick Allen, Szabolcs Wiksell, Charlie Ferguson, Jonah Kagen, Tate Keir and Andrew Hevener have amassed 44 goals and 46 assists in total making 347 appearances and 201 career starts. Cornell's fifth-year seniors own a 39-22-6 record, while the fourth-year seniors are 32-14-4 for their careers.
 
"Those guys have been phenomenal," Smith said. "They really turned around this program. They committed to a program, where in the case of the fifth-years, had won one game the prior year, or in the case of the fourth-years had won eight games in two years. We weren't doing great when these guys decided they wanted to come here. You look at where the program is now, it's vastly different, and it's because of those guys. Not just from a soccer aspect, but from an emotional aspect they've really set the tone of how we want to act. They're going to be incredible ancestors to this program."
 
Up Next: Cornell hopes to hear its named called during the NCAA Tournament selection show at 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 15. Princeton locked up the automatic bid into the tournament leaving Cornell hoping for an at-large berth. The Big Red are #28 in the latest NCAA RPI rankings, leaving them with a strong feeling towards earning a bid. Cornell has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2012.