Full Release

SOMERSET, N.J. - The LIU Brooklyn men's soccer team, coming off its first Northeast Conference Tournament appearance in a decade, was selected to finish seventh in a poll of the league's coaches that was released on Tuesday. The Blackbirds, who return 16 letterwinners and welcome a talented group of newcomers, will begin the regular season on Friday, Aug. 28 against Presbyterian.

The top returning player for LIU is senior Tanner Sica, who was named to the All-NEC Second Team a season ago after piling up six assists in 16 contests. The two-time All-NEC honoree is one of seven starters that remain from the 2014 roster for the Blackbirds.

St. Francis Brooklyn, the 2014 NEC Tournament champion, earned five first-place votes and was picked to again finish atop the conference standings. Saint Francis U., the regular season champs from last year, earned the remaining three top ballots and was slotted second.

The top four finishers, based on point totals accumulated during conference play, will compete in the two-day, single-elimination Northeast Conference Tournament, held at the campus of the top seed on Nov. 13-15.