BROOKLYN, N.Y. - LIU Brooklyn men's soccer freshman Simen Hestnes has been recognized by the Northeast Conference office for his impressive play this past weekend. The Olso, Norway native has been named the NEC Co-Player and Rookie of the Week, alongside Saint Francis U's Mario Mastrangelo, the league announced Monday. 
 
Hestnes earns his first NEC Player and Rookie of the Week accolades after scoring the lone goal of the game for LIU midway through the second half, earning the Gary and Alan Rosenthal Award, which is given to the Most Valuable Player of the match. The game-winner helped the Blackbirds complete just the third perfect season in NEC men's soccer history. The Norwegian almost found the back of the net in the seventh minute of play, but hit the crossbar from five yards out. Hestnes had another opportunity in the second half and was able to convert when he deked the SFBK goalkeeper and maneuvered around him for the open net goal in the 66th minute.
 
The Blackbirds have won nine straight games, the longest current streak in NCAA Division I men's soccer, and has their longest winning streak since winning 13 straight to start the 1985 season. The Blackbirds completed just the third unbeaten and untied regular season in Northeast Conference history and won the Carlo-Arnie Cup, which is given to the team that wins the Battle of Brooklyn each year.
 
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LIU (10-5-2, 6-0-0 NEC) is set to host the NEC Tournament next weekend, which will take place Friday, Nov. 13 through Sunday, Nov. 15. At noon on Friday, Saint Francis U. (#2) will take on Robert Morris (#3) in the first semifinal. Top-seeded LIU Brooklyn squares off in a rematch against the fourth-seeded Terriers at 3:00 p.m. to determine who will advance to the final on Sunday at noon.