Box Score
LORETTO, Pa. – Despite an early lead, the LIU Brooklyn men's soccer team fell 3-2 to Saint Francis U. on Sunday evening in Loretto, Pa. The Blackbirds (3-9-0, 2-1-0 NEC) dropped their first league match of the season, while the Red Flash moved to 3-1 in conference play.
LIU Brooklyn led most of the game, scoring twice in the first half, but three quick goals near the end of the game gave Saint Francis U. the one-goal edge. The Red Flash held the advantage in shots, 17-11, as well as corner kicks at 11-4.
Senior Brice Merwine added to his scoring total in the 26th minute, putting the Blackbirds on the board first, after sophomore Naeem Charles passed Merwine the ball in the box for the shot. It was his 12th goal of the season.
LIU Brooklyn scored another goal just five minutes later. Freshman Isak Doumbia passed the ball to senior Tanner Sica in the box, who sent the score to 2-0 with his first goal of the season.
Sica would take another shot, while Saint Francis had two, but neither could convert before halftime.
In the second half, both teams took the majority of the shots, with Saint Francis U. launching 12 to LIU's 8. Ryan Byers got the Red Flash on the board with a header shot with 22 left to play to close the gap to one. They tied the game just over a minute later after a ball deflected off an LIU defender into the goal.
Byers scored the game-winner with 11 minutes left in the second. Sica had two chances afterwards, but could not find the back of the net.
Sica led the Blackbirds in shots with five and two on goal, while Merwine totaled three. Goalkeeper Logan Keys had eight saves.
Up next, LIU continues its three-game road trip with a match at Bryant on Friday, Oct. 24 at 3:00 p.m.