Sharks look to match best start in 30 years

Ranked third in Northeast entering match vs. Fordham

September 1, 2022 John Torenli, Sports Editor

Emil Jaaskelainen and the LIU Sharks will shoot for their first 3-0 start since 1992 Friday, when they host Fordham. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

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Looking for their first 3-0 start since 1992, the Long Island University men’s soccer team will host Fordham Friday afternoon in Brookville, N.Y., boasting a No. 3 ranking in the Northeast Region poll, according to United Soccer Coaches.

After receiving their 2021 Northeast Conference championship rings ahead of last Thursday’s season-opening 1-0 blanking of Stony Brook, the Sharks (2-0) edged Iona, 2-1, on Monday afternoon, getting off to a perfect start on their three-game homestand.

Junior striker Emil Jaaskelainen scored both goals in the opening 11 minutes for LIU, which advanced to the second round of the NCAA College Cup last season before seeing its historic run end against Saint Louis.

The Sharks, who were topped only by top-ranked Vermont and the University of Baltimore-Maryland County in the opening poll, have held off their opponents behind the brilliance of senior goaltender Sergio Peralta.

The 6-foot Middle Village, N.Y., native will be facing a Fordham (0-1-1) team seeking its first win of the year.

The Sharks and Rams battled to a scoreless draw in the Bronx last September during the first month of LIU’s run to the NCAAs.

The ’92 LIU squad began the season with four straight wins, something these Sharks can accomplish by topping Fordham Friday and Hofstra Tuesday in Hempstead, N.Y.

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In other local college sports news, St. Francis Brooklyn right-side hitter Penelope Rivera was named an NEC Prime Performer following the first week of the season.

SFC Brooklyn junior Penelope Rivera was named an NEC Prime Performer after helping the Terriers’ volleyball squad to a 2-1 start. Photo courtesy of SFC Brooklyn Athletics

Though Rivera and her teammates suffered a sweep at the hands of Fordham on Remsen Street Wednesday, the junior from Puerto Rico accumulated 29 kills, 12 digs and four blocks during the Terriers’ season-opening three-game run in the University of New Hampshire’s Holly Young Invitational.

She also was named to the All-Tournament team before registering another 14 kills against the Rams in the home opener.

The Terriers will return to tournament play this weekend, when they battle Army, UConn and Temple beginning Friday morning in West Point, N.Y.

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Brooklyn College named Shelby Thomas its new Compliance Coordinator last week following her stint as a Graduate Assistant for Compliance at St. John’s University.

“Shelby came highly recommended and has a passion for NCAA compliance making her a perfect fit for the position,” said the Bulldogs’ Acting Director of Athletics Alex Lang. “We look forward to her working with our student-athletes.”

Working directly with the Director of Compliance at St. John’s, Thomas assisted with a number of tasks relating to eligibility and academic success, according to the BC Athletics Department.

“I’m more than excited to be a member of the Bulldogs community,” Thomas said. “I look forward to adding my skills and experience as both an administrator and former student-athlete to the athletics department at Brooklyn College.”

Shelby Thomas was named the new Compliance Coordinator at Brooklyn College last week. Photo courtesy of BC Athletics

Thomas also has administrative experience at the youth basketball level, serving as an operations manager for Classics AAU.

As an operations manager, she was responsible for scheduling, budgeting, updating websites with results and individual statistics as well as organizing equipment for practices and games.

Having earned her BS in Sports Management from St. John’s, the Baltimore, Maryland native is currently pursuing her Master’s of Professional Studies in Sports Management at St. John’s.