September 5, 2011
IVY LEAGUE HONORS
Columbia's Najem player of the week

Columbia University sophomore midfielder David Najem was named the Ivy League men's soccer player of the week after leading the Lions to a pair of victories over the weekend.

Najem earned the first Ivy player of the week award of his career, after having been named Ivy rookie of the week twice last season.

In Friday's season opener at Fairfield, Najem's offensive prowess was on full display. The Clifton, N.J. product, who finished with a team-high four shots, nearly found the back of the net in the first minute. But his bending shot far post was denied by All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference goalkeeper Michael O'Keefe to keep the game scoreless.

Later in the opening half, Najem got his team on the board with what would prove to be the game-winning goal. After settling the ball in the middle of the box, Najem looked left but shot to his right to fool O'Keefe and give Columbia a 1-0 lead that it would not relinquish.

Against Sacred Heart on Sunday, Najem played the role of distributor as he doled out a pair of assists in a 2-1 extratime win. Najem leads the Lions with four points.

Columbia (2-0), off to its best start since the 2002 season, will look for its third consecutive victory against Saint Peter's College at 7 p.m. Tuesday.