NEW YORK — Jake Novoshelski had to wait longer than usual to make his collegiate debut.
In 2020, his first-year season was wiped out due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Then the sophomore watched from the sidelines as Columbia opened the season hosting George Washington before being subbed in in the 33rd minute.
He didn't wait long to make an impact.
The Lions came out of the second half firing, with Novoshelski threading the needle on a through ball, barely squeezing it between two defenders to first-year Ryan Kipness, who was able to corral it and hit the back of the net at 45:31. Kipness returned the favor, assisting Novosheski to make it 2-0 at 48:33.
"The first assist — I thought it was everything I was waiting for — to hear my name out there, to get the fans and the boys on the sideline hyped up," Novoshelski said. "Then to go and score the goal like a minute later, it was just unbelievable. That rush I felt was literally euphoric."
While the duo have only been playing together since training camp, Novshelski and Kipness already have an unspoken chemistry building. On the second goal, Novoshelski was on the defender's blindside when he saw Kipness get the ball at midfield, and a glance was all it took.
"He looked at me, he made eye contact with me and as soon as I did that I knew I was supposed to run to put a set down. He put a beautiful ball over, I took my first touch away from the defender and then just put it back across the keeper," Novosheski recalled. "As soon as I made eye contact with Kip I knew what we were doing — that's always going to happen."
Which is a good sign for the Lions, who have added 17 new faces to the program since last competing in 2019, 14 of which had never played a collegiate game. While the backline and goalkeeper provide for a more collegiately seasoned defense, the same can't be said about an offense that returns only 18 percent of its goal scoring and 24 percent of its assists.47' | And another!!! This time it's Novoshelski who scores off the assist from Kipness!
2-0 Lions on top
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— Columbia Mens Soccer (@CULionsMSOC) September 3, 2021
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"We know that this attacking group of guys and those two today have have the potential and they have the experience of scoring goals. Now it's just a point of being able to do it in college soccer so they have experience," 13th-year coach Kevin Anderson said. "Now it's just can they do it at this level. And I think you saw that they get their moments and they make them, and they make them count.
"So we're happy, we're happy with that for those two guys, but I think it's a team effort that gets them in that position."
Including on the defensive end, with George Washington (1-1-1) controlling much of the first half on Columbia's (1-0-0) side of the field, the Lions defense was stifling. While Columbia outshot George Washingtson 9-6, the Colonials held a 6-0 advantage on corner kicks, but were turned away every time by the backline.
With the Lions embarking on their 73rd season as a varsity men's soccer program, Friday marked the first all-time matchup between Columbia and George Washington. And for their first contest in 657 days with 233 fans cheering on at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium, it was serendipity for the Lions players on a picturesque day at Baker Athletic Complex.
"It just felt right," Novoshelski said. "Two years basically this has been coming. [663] days since we've gotten to represent ourselves on this field last and it just feels like a home."
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September 05, 2021 at 11:15PM
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