HIGHLIGHTS: COLUMBIA VS. PENN

NEW YORK - The Columbia men's soccer team will begin a three-game homestand Tuesday night, as Providence visits New York City and the Columbia Soccer Stadium for a 7 p.m. matchup.

Tuesday's game will be the first at home for Columbia since Sept. 15 when the Lions fell to Delaware, 1-0. The Lions played their previous four contests as the road team, going 0-2-1 before defeating Penn Saturday, 1-0, in Philadelphia, Pa. The win improved Columbia to .500 (1-1) in Ivy League play and put the Lions in a tie for fourth in the conference standings with Dartmouth.

Jack Gagné scored the game's only goal against Penn, becoming the eighth player to score for Columbia this season.

Defense has been the storyline of many of the Lions' games is 2012. Columbia has recorded eight goals this season, while only giving up 11. Eight of Columbia's 10 games this season have either ended in a tie or with just one goal separating the teams at the final horn.

Goalkeeper Kyle Jackson, the Ivy league Rookie of the Week, and the back line in front of him have done a good job all season limiting the number of quality scoring chances that opponents have had on the Columbia goal. When teams have had shots on goal, Jackson has been there to turn them away, making 35 saves this season.

Providence will be the second Big East opponent the Lions have faced this year. Columbia fell at No. 15 St. John's Sept. 25, 3-1. The Friars enter Tuesday's match with a 2-7-1 overall record. Providence has lost its last three matches, all against Big East foes. The Friars most recent defeat came at the hands of Seton Hall Oct. 3 by a score of 2-1.

Keith Jecewiz paces the Friars with three goals and seven points this season. Wilder Arboleda, one of just three Providence players to start every game, is second with five points. Keasel Broome has played just under 707 minutes in goal for the Friars, posting a 1.40 goals-against average and a 1-5-1 record.

Tuesday's match will be the first ever between Columbia and Providence.