LIU Sharks extend season-high streak

Jaaskelainen scores in eighth straight in draw at Howard

October 12, 2022 John Torenli, Sports Editor

Emil Jaaskelainen extended his NCAA-leading goal-scoring streak to eight games as LIU earned a 2-2 draw at Howard on Sunday. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

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Emil Jaaskelainen kept his streak alive and so did the Long Island University men’s soccer team.

Well, sort of.

Jaaskelainen scored in his eighth straight match Sunday, but the defending Northeast Conference champion Sharks saw their season-high seven-game winning streak snapped at seven, settling for a 2-2 draw with NEC rival Howard in front of 241 fans at Greene Stadium in Washington, D.C.

Though the first-place Sharks (9-2-1, 3-0-1 NEC) remained unbeaten in their last eight games, they found themselves on the verge of their first defeat since Sept. 7 at Hostra when Jaaskelainen took a feed from Matthias Heiland and buried the equalizer in the 80th minute.

The goal was the NCAA-leading 11th of the year for the junior striker from Bolton, England and extended the longest goal-scoring streak in the nation this year, even if the Sharks couldn’t keep their perfect NEC record intact.

Andre Puente also scored and Gianluca Cersosimo made three saves for LIU, which will be at Merrimack on Thursday night in North Andover, Massachusetts.

Arch rival St. Francis Brooklyn stretched its unbeaten streak to six games Sunday at Merrimack, earning a 1-1 draw on Badr Mesrar’s tally in the 61st minute.

Jack Pascoe and the SFC Brooklyn Terriers will carry a six-game unbeaten streak to Sacred Heart on Thursday. Photo courtesy of SFC Brooklyn Athletics

The Terriers (6-3-2, 2-0-1) had a five-game winning streak snapped, but remained just behind the Sharks and Fairleigh Dickinson (3-0-1) for the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NEC Tournament.

Jack Pascoe assisted on Mesrar’s tying goal and Alec McLachlan made three saves for the Terriers, who will visit Sacred Heart Thursday in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Either the Sharks or Terriers have won nine of the previous 10 NEC crowns and the regular-season title most often comes down to their annual showdown finale.

This year’s match is scheduled for Nov. 3 at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

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On the women’s side, SFC Brooklyn suffered a 3-0 loss at Sacred Heart last Thursday, falling for the fifth straight time and dropping to 0-7-2 since a 3-2 triumph over Hartford in Brooklyn Heights on Aug. 25.

The Terriers (1-8-3, 0-5) will try to end their nine-game winless streak on Sunday at Howard.

Sara Borer scored the lone goal and Kayla DeTreux made four saves Sunday as the LIU women remained in the NEC playoff hunt with a 1-0 victory over Wagner on Senior Day at LIU Soccer Park in Brookville, N.Y.

Goalie Kayla DeTreux celebrated Senior Day in Brookville, N.Y., with her second straight shutout as LIU remained in NEC playoff race. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

Borer put the Sharks (4-8-3, 2-2-2) ahead to stay in the 28th minute and DeTreux, who was named NEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week, made it stand up as LIU remained in the sixth and final postseason spot.

Borer, who scored her first goal since Oct. 7, 2021, played her final home match along with DeTreux, Grace Cagnina, Sami Jablonski, Tatianna Lizarraga, Amanda Marasco, Mariah Morgan, Kendra Oldroyd, María Camila Orozco, Nevaeh Rascon, Taylor Curcio, Emily Tirado and Oliva Wesch.

The Sharks will continue their playoff push Thursday at Fairleigh Dickinson in Teaneck, N.J.