NEW YORK – Columbia and Brown each notched a pair of goals in the first half Saturday, but neither team would find the back of the net again, as the Lions and Bears opened Ivy League play with a 2-2 draw. Prior to the game, Columbia honored its seven seniors in a short ceremony.

The game opened with the Lions controlling play through the first 10 minutes, but Brown shifted the momentum with contest’s first tally in the 13th minute. Jose Salama directed a free kick from the right side of the field to the center of the penalty area where Daniel Taylor headed it into the goal.

The Bears added their second goal in the 26th minute with Tariq Akeel placing a shot in the top left corner over the outstretched hands of Columbia goalkeeper Kyle Jackson.

Columbia refused to back down, responding with a strike of its own just three minutes later. In fitting fashion on Senior Day, Stamatis notched the Lions’ first goal on header off a beautiful corner kick from Bryce Terrill. The goal brought Stamatis’ season total to three.

The goal renewed Columbia’s energy, which led to two more shots from Antonio Matarazzo and Stamatis before Tinari provided the equalizer in the 38th minute. Using some sharp passing in the penalty area, senior David Najem found Tinari parked in front of the net where the first-year touched the ball past Brown goalkeeper Josh Weiner.

The second half saw the scoring opportunities for each team dwindle, with the Bears recording just one shot, while the Lions managed five. Columbia put the pressure on late with a pair of attempts on net, but Weiner came up with both saves.

Playing in their first overtime match of the season, Columbia posted just one shot in the first extra period, a Stamatis blast that was turned away. The second overtime period also saw limited offensive prowess, with Brown’s David Taylor registering the only shot, which Jackson gobbled up.

Columbia returns to action next Saturday when Penn visits New York City for a 7:30 p.m. match. The women’s squad will take on the Quakers at 3:30 p.m. and between the two games, Columbia will dedicate the soccer field at the Baker Athletics Complex as the Rocco B. Commisso Socccer Stadium.

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