LIU Sharks remain atop NEC standings

Extend unbeaten streak with 4-0 rout of Manhattan College

September 22, 2021 John Torenli, Sports Editor

Sophomore Papa Sow was one of four Sharks to score goals Tuesday as first-place Long Island University blanked Manhattan College. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

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They might not play their home games in Downtown Brooklyn any longer, but the Long Island University men’s soccer team appears determined to win back the Northeast Conference from their former neighborhood rivals.

Sophomores Andre Puente, Papa Sow and Emil Jaaskelainen and freshman Michael-Andre Odusami scored and junior goalies Sergio Peralta and Julian Quaresima combined on a shutout as LIU blanked visiting Manhattan College, 4-0, in Brookville, N.Y., on Tuesday.

Puente’s second goal in as many games staked the Sharks (4-2-2) to a lead in the 13th minute before Sow made it 2-0 with his first of the year eight minutes before halftime.

Jaaskelainen’s third tally of the season came in the 60th minute and Odusami’s first made it 4-0 with just under four minutes remaining in regulation.

With the win, LIU improved to 3-0-1 in its last four contests heading into Sunday’s Northeast Conference opener at Central Connecticut State.

Last season, the Sharks went 3-1-4 en route to the NEC Championship Game, which they lost to St. Francis Brooklyn via penalty-kill shootout after the Downtown rivals battled to a scoreless draw through 110 minutes.

LIU then had to watch the Terriers upset Milwaukee in the opening round of the NCAA College Cup before falling to third-seeded Indiana on penalty kicks in the second round.

The Sharks lost three of their first four contests this season before outscoring their last four opponents by a combined 10-3.

Now, they’ll take their first step toward climbing to the top of the NEC standings, which have only featured non-conference results to this point in the campaign.

After visiting CCSU on Sunday, the Sharks will head to Fairfield, Connecticut to take on NEC foe Sacred Heart next Thursday. LIU will host its league home opener on Oct. 3 vs. Bryant.

The Terriers (2-3-1) have won two of their last three games, including Saturday’s 2-1 triumph at Brown University.

The St. Francis men’s soccer team edged Brown, 2-1, on Saturday for their second win of the season. Photo courtesy of SFC Brooklyn Athletics

Seniors Sokol Ymeraj and El Mahdi Youssoufi scored for the Terriers, who got six huge saves from sophomore goalie David Santiago.

SFC will begin defense of its fifth NEC title in the past eight seasons when it visits Howard University in Washington, D.C., on Sunday.

The Terriers will host their home NEC opener at Brooklyn Bridge Park next Thursday vs. Bryant.

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On the women’s side, LIU and SFC fought to a 1-1, double-overtime draw last Sunday afternoon at BPP.

Junior Tatiana Lizarraga scored in the 19th minute to give the winless Sharks (0-3-2, 0-0-1 NEC) an early advantage, but SFC senior Lauren Shultz equalized in the 75th.

Lydia Fraga Cordoba made sure the Terriers (2-3-4, 1-0-1 NEC) didn’t touch the back of the net thereafter, finishing with nine saves on a night her team was outshot, 22-10.

Junior Klil Keshwar stopped five shots for SFC, which was scheduled to return to the pitch Wednesday night in Newark, N.J., vs. NJIT.

The Sharks will host Fairleigh Dickinson Sunday afternoon in Brookville.

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Freshman Laya Yagersys scored Brooklyn College’s first goal of the year Saturday afternoon at Cairn University. Photo courtesy of BC Athletics

Over at Brooklyn College, freshman midfielder Laya Yagersys scored the Bulldogs’ first goal of the season Saturday afternoon in Bristol, Pennsylvania, but BC still suffered a 7-1 defeat to Cairn University.

Junior netminder Angelina Vasta stopped 15 shots for the Bulldogs (0-4).

The BC men’s soccer team suffered a 3-1 loss at Centenary in Hackettstown, N.J., on Saturday despite a late goal by senior Alex Sosa.

Senior goalie Utku Tanritanir made four saves for the Bulldogs, who fell to 0-6 on the season.