Box Score BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Sacred Heart men's soccer team scored first Friday night at LIU Field against the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds, but two goals in the span of four minutes powered LIU Brooklyn to a 3-1 win.
Sacred Heart (0-14-2, 0-5-1 NEC) put a shot on goal two minutes into the game when Callum Smith's header was stopped by LIU Brooklyn goalkeeper Logan Keys. Tucker Hackett (Madison, Conn.) stopped a header from Tyler Draovitch in the fifth minute. The Pioneers got on the board in the 14th minute when Giancarlo Maurello (Rego Park, N.Y.) converted a penalty kick. Sacred Heart came close to extending the lead to 2-0 in the 22nd minute when Mahmoud Kafel (Fairfield, Conn.) rang a shot off the crossbar.
Two minutes later, LIU Brooklyn (5-10-0, 4-2-0 NEC) tied the game. Brice Merwine knocked in the rebound of a Naeem Charles shot in the 24th minute make the score 1-1. In the 28th minute, Merwine put the Blackbirds in the lead by chipping in a Charles cross. Sacred Heart outshot LIU Brooklyn 9-7 in the first half, but trailed at the interval 2-1.
The Pioneers had two chances early in the second half to tie the game. Shaquille Saunchez (Kingston, Jamaica) had a shot saved in the 58th minute, as did Chris McCormick (Staten Island, N.Y.) in the 68th minute. The Blackbirds tacked on a third goal in the 71st minute as David Nuernberg scored cross-cage from 10 yards out to make the score 3-1. Sacred Heart had just one more shot on goal as LIU Brooklyn clinched its spot in the Northeast Conference tournament with a 3-1 win.
Sacred Heart outshot LIU Brooklyn 19-14, but each team had six shots on goal. Hackett made three saves as Keys stopped five shots.
The Pioneers close out the home portion of the 2014 season on Tuesday, November 4 with a 7 p.m. game against Columbia for Senior Night.
