Sunday, November 12
Brooklyn, NY
12:00 p.m.
Sacred Heart
at
LIU
Pioneers Set to Make Program History in First NEC Final against LIU
11/11/2023 10:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Championship game will take place on Sunday at noon in Brookville, N.Y.
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University men's soccer team punched its ticket to the Northeast Conference (NEC) championship game against LIU on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. in Brookville, N.Y.
RECORDS
#4 Sacred Heart: 6-7-4, (3-2-4 NEC)
#2 LIU: 9-5-3, (5-0-2 NEC)
LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers tied Saint Francis Thursday, 1-1, advancing to the final with a 5-3 win in penalty kicks. First-year Alex Almuzara scored the lone Pioneer goal in the 48th minute of the game unassisted. The game went into overtime and penalty kicks resulting in a 5-3 win for the Pioneers. Andrew Hammersley had the game winning save on the third SFU penalty kick and Aidan Borra sealed the deal on the fifth penalty.
SFU outshot the Pioneers 14-5 and 4-2 on goal. The Red Flash saw seven corners to SHU's four.
THE MATCHUP
SHU faced LIU earlier this season on October 1st, falling 2-1. Almuzara led the team with two shots and one shot on goal. Hammersley recorded five saves.
LIU's Emil Jaaskelainen scored both goals for the Sharks. In the 80th minute, first-year Gianluca Lanzilli shot the ball into the box when an LIU defender attempted to head the ball to the keeper but ended up in the back of the net for an own goal.
Sacred Heart tallied eight shots, two shots on goal, and earned one corner opportunities compared to LIU's 17 shots, seven shots on goal and four corners.
SCOUTING LIU
The No. 2 Sharks secured a bye week with their #2 seed and defeated FDU in the semifinal, 2-1, in overtime.
LIU totaled 34 goals this season. Senior Emil Jaaskelainen leads LIU with 26 points, tallying 10 goals and six assists. He was awarded All-NEC Player of the Year. Ben Assane Fall follows with 21 points, tallying six goals and nine assists. Joshua Saacedra (7g, 5a), Alan Martinez (3g, 6a) and Saidou Diallo (1g, 9a) have also played well this season.
Two keepers have seen playing time for the Sharks. Graduate Eoin played in 13 games totaling 44 saves, 1.27 goals against average and a 0.733 save percentage.
SCOUTING PIONEERS
Sophomore David Garcia Gallego leads the team in points (12) and started all 16 regular season games with four goals, four assists and 23 shots on goal. Garcia Gallego tabbed two game-winning goals against Siena and Columbia. He was named to the 2023 All-NEC Second Team.
Senior Olliver Persson leads the team with five goals.
Goalkeeper Hammersley has 62 saves on the season, recording five shutouts (tied 2nd in NEC). He also has a 1.19 goals against average and 0.738 save percentage.
Senior captain Etienne Murugarren earned 2023 All-NEC First Team recognition as a defender. He started all 16 regular season games and has the most minutes out of the field players. Murugarren has contributed to the team's 1.19 goals against average and five shutouts.
First-year forward Alex Almuzara was named to the 2023 All-Rookie team. He played in all 16 regular season games, starting in 13. He has tallied two goals and two assists with 12 shots on goal.
RECORDS
#4 Sacred Heart: 6-7-4, (3-2-4 NEC)
#2 LIU: 9-5-3, (5-0-2 NEC)
LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers tied Saint Francis Thursday, 1-1, advancing to the final with a 5-3 win in penalty kicks. First-year Alex Almuzara scored the lone Pioneer goal in the 48th minute of the game unassisted. The game went into overtime and penalty kicks resulting in a 5-3 win for the Pioneers. Andrew Hammersley had the game winning save on the third SFU penalty kick and Aidan Borra sealed the deal on the fifth penalty.
SFU outshot the Pioneers 14-5 and 4-2 on goal. The Red Flash saw seven corners to SHU's four.
THE MATCHUP
SHU faced LIU earlier this season on October 1st, falling 2-1. Almuzara led the team with two shots and one shot on goal. Hammersley recorded five saves.
LIU's Emil Jaaskelainen scored both goals for the Sharks. In the 80th minute, first-year Gianluca Lanzilli shot the ball into the box when an LIU defender attempted to head the ball to the keeper but ended up in the back of the net for an own goal.
Sacred Heart tallied eight shots, two shots on goal, and earned one corner opportunities compared to LIU's 17 shots, seven shots on goal and four corners.
SCOUTING LIU
The No. 2 Sharks secured a bye week with their #2 seed and defeated FDU in the semifinal, 2-1, in overtime.
LIU totaled 34 goals this season. Senior Emil Jaaskelainen leads LIU with 26 points, tallying 10 goals and six assists. He was awarded All-NEC Player of the Year. Ben Assane Fall follows with 21 points, tallying six goals and nine assists. Joshua Saacedra (7g, 5a), Alan Martinez (3g, 6a) and Saidou Diallo (1g, 9a) have also played well this season.
Two keepers have seen playing time for the Sharks. Graduate Eoin played in 13 games totaling 44 saves, 1.27 goals against average and a 0.733 save percentage.
SCOUTING PIONEERS
Sophomore David Garcia Gallego leads the team in points (12) and started all 16 regular season games with four goals, four assists and 23 shots on goal. Garcia Gallego tabbed two game-winning goals against Siena and Columbia. He was named to the 2023 All-NEC Second Team.
Senior Olliver Persson leads the team with five goals.
Goalkeeper Hammersley has 62 saves on the season, recording five shutouts (tied 2nd in NEC). He also has a 1.19 goals against average and 0.738 save percentage.
Senior captain Etienne Murugarren earned 2023 All-NEC First Team recognition as a defender. He started all 16 regular season games and has the most minutes out of the field players. Murugarren has contributed to the team's 1.19 goals against average and five shutouts.
First-year forward Alex Almuzara was named to the 2023 All-Rookie team. He played in all 16 regular season games, starting in 13. He has tallied two goals and two assists with 12 shots on goal.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
M/F
/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's Soccer
F
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