BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn men's soccer team (5-5-2, 2-0-0 NEC) earned a shutout win, 1-0, over Northeast Conference rival Bryant on Sunday afternoon. Freshman Simen Hestnes scored late in the first half to give the Blackbirds a 1-0 lead, but it was the strong LIU defense that helped secure a second consecutive win for the Blackbirds this weekend. 

The first shot of the game came late in the 10th minute from redshirt sophomore Naeem Charles, who missed just wide of the goal. Less than one minute later, the Bulldogs' Jason Norat had the first offensive opportunity for Bryant, but his shot went high. 

At the start of the 31st minute, forward Sam Trueman got a shot off from 20 yards for the Bulldogs, but redshirt junior keeper Logan Keys dove to make an impressive save for LIU. Hestnes took his first shot from inside the box in the 32nd minute, off a cross from fellow freshman Filip Nordstrom, that was saved by the Bryant keeper.

In the 35th minute, freshman Rasmus Hansen took a shot for the Blackbirds that was blocked by the keeper, but Hestnes pounced on the rebound and tapped a shot home for his second goal of the season. LIU led Bryant, 1-0, going into the second half.

Early in the second half, redshirt freshman Romario Guscott dribbled down the field and maneuvered around the Bulldogs keeper, but his shot from the left side of the goal missed just wide. Keys made another great save in the 79th minute, stopping a Bryant header shot from finding the back of the net. 

The Blackbirds defense was put to the test in the last few minutes of play, with Hestes coming up with a key play down the stretch. A header shot from Bryant inside the box in the 86th minute appeared destined to tie the game, but the Oslo, Norway native flicked the ball out of bounds before it found the back of the net. The Bulldogs made a last-ditch effort in the final moments of regulation, but a pair of shots would miss high to give LIU its third consecutive win. Keys picked up the shutout in net and improved to 5-0-1 on the year with a 0.49 goals-against average.

UP NEXT
The Blackbirds will host NEC rivals Robert Morris and Saint Francis University next weekend at LIU Field. LIU goes up against the Colonials on Friday, Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18 is Alumni Day for the Blackbirds, as they face the Red Flash at 1:00 p.m.