PURCHASE, N.Y. – A first half red card issued to the Columbia men’s soccer team did not stop the Lions from getting by Binghamton, 2-1. With the win, the Lions improved to 4-1 on the season.

At the 29:58 mark in the contest, Binghamton’s Charlie Novoth sprinted towards a forward pass but was fouled near the top of the box by Brendan Dennis. The foul resulted in a red card for Dennis, and a free kick for Novoth, who buried the goal on the right side to give the Bearcats a 1-0 lead.

Binghamton took their one goal advantage into the locker room at halftime, but it was not without plenty of aggressive play by the Lions, who out-shot the Bearcats 7-6 in the first.

The offensive mindset continued in the second half and paid off for Columbia, when Francisco Agrest knocked in his first goal of the season in the 52nd minute. The sophomore finished a left footed kick from the top of the key just inside the post to even the match.

Columbia kept the offense coming, and in the 82nd minute it paid off. Zach Morant sent a ball into the box towards Arthur Bosua, who gathered it and sent it past Binghamton’s Alejandro Cubillo, for what ended up being the game-winning goal. Bosua’s third tally of the season was the second straight game he posted a goal, as he was one of four goal-scorers in the Lions’ 4-3 win at Monmouth.

The Bearcats had a look at goal late in the contest, but it would end up being denied by Zachary Adler and the Columbia defense, who held strong while being a man down for the final 60 minutes of the match.  Louie Maldonado and Korede Olagbegi added extra defensive support in the final six minutes after the Bosua goal. Adler finished the game with six saves for his fourth win of the season, allowing just the free kick score in the first half.

Up next, Columbia will travel across town to take on Fordham on Friday, September 23 at 5 p.m.