NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – The LIU Brooklyn men's soccer team secured its fourth straight shutout, sixth straight win and moved its unbeaten streak to seven after a dominant 3-0 win over Central Connecticut on Sunday. The Blackbirds scored twice in the first half and once more in the second to improve to 8-5-2 on the season and a perfect 5-0-0 in the Northeast Conference.
 
LIU had a pair of opportunities early, as freshman Rasmus Hansen took the first shot of the game for the Blackbirds in the seventh minute but missed wide. In the 10th minute, senior Nahuel Medina drew out the Central keeper, taking a shot on goal, but the shot was blocked by the Blue Devil defense.
 
Hansen scored his seventh goal of the season and the first of the game in the 15th minute of play off of a nice centering pass from classmate Filip Nordstrom. Later in the period, sophomore Naeem Charles took a corner kick in the 38th minute and found senior Jacob Smith. Smith got his head on the ball and trickled his attempt off the keeper's arm into the goal to put the Blackbirds on top, 2-0. The goal was the first of Smith's career as LIU went into intermission with a two-goal advantage.
 
Early in the second half, Charles had the first scoring opportunity for LIU, but his shot was blocked by the Central defense. Hansen got a shot off from 20 yards out that went off of the right post in the 63rd minute.
 
Midway through the second half, redshirt junior Logan Keys made his first save of the game, diving to intercept a header shot from the Blue Devil's Louis Beddouri. Just after Keys' save, freshman Eric Wahlin dribbled past the Central defense and got a shot off that was stopped by the keeper. Charles tracked down the loose ball and took advantage of the open net, scoring his second goal of the season, to give the Blackbirds a 3-0 lead in the 76th minute.
 
From there, the Blackbirds took care of business to remain undefeated in NEC play with just two more conference contests to play. Keys continued his hot stretch, improving to 8-0-1 on the year and earning his sixth shutout this year in goal. 
 
UP NEXT
LIU heads to Fairfield, Connecticut next Friday, October 30 for its matchup against Sacred Heart at 3:00 p.m. On Sunday, November 1, it's Senior Day at LIU Field. The Blackbirds square off against Georgia Southern at 2:00 p.m.