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BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's soccer team opens its 2014 season on Friday, Aug. 22 with a home match against Iona at 6:00 p.m. Admission is free to the public, with all of the action also available live over the internet on NEC Front Row.
ABOUT LIU BROOKLYN
The Blackbirds were picked to finish second in the Northeast Conference, according to the recently-released coaches poll. LIU picked up a pair of first-place votes and was ranked just behind defending champion Saint Francis U. LIU Brooklyn fell to the Red Flash, 1-0, in last season's NEC Tournament final.
Nine starters return from last year's squad, including redshirt senior midfielders Caroline Kaplan and Jen Spicer. The duo combined for 39 starts a season ago and brings a vast amount of experience to the team.
Also back is reigning NEC Rookie of the Year Jenn Peters, who led the Blackbirds with seven goals and 17 points in 2013. Peters became the first student-athlete in the history of the NEC to win Rookie of the Year honors in two sports (women's lacrosse).
Defensively, senior Shannon O'Connor anchors a group that returns three players who formed the bulk of the backline a season ago. O'Connor earned a spot on the All-NEC Second Team in 2013, while fellow defender Asha Mohiddin enters her sophomore year following an All-Rookie Team nomination last year.
ABOUT THE GAELS
Iona, who was picked to finish fifth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preseason Poll, finished last season with a 7-8-4 record including a 0-1-1 mark against NEC schools. The Gaels dropped a 1-0 decision to Fairleigh Dickinson and tied Mount St. Mary's, 1-1.
Senior Sali Ayinde was named to the Preseason All-MAAC team after scoring a pair of goals and registering five assists in 18 contests a year ago. Senior forward Melissa Frederick is the main returning threat up top after closing last year with two goals and two assists.
ALL-TIME SERIES
LIU Brooklyn holds a slim 3-2 edge in the all-time series between the two schools that dates back to 1997. The Blackbirds have recorded two consecutive shutouts against the Gaels, including the last matchup, a 3-0 win on Sept. 20, 2010. LIU finished the 2010 season with a 15-3-3 record , allowing just nine goals in 21 matches.