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BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn men's soccer team will host the First Annual Astroturf Brooklyn Bridge Cup this weekend at LIU Field, in conjunction with St. Francis Brooklyn. The home opener will be Friday, Sept. 4 at 6:30 p.m. against St. Bonaventure, followed by a match against UMass Lowell on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
The Blackbirds opened the season with matches against Presbyterian and UNC Asheville. LIU defeated the Blue Hose 3-1 last Friday. On Sunday, a red card early in the game plagued the Blackbirds, resulting in a 2-1 loss to the Bulldogs. LIU is 1-1 on the season going into their home opener this weekend.
ABOUT THE BLACKBIRDS
Redshirt freshman Romario Guscott and NEC Rookie of the Week Rasmus Hansen lead LIU with 2 goals each on the season. Hansen, a forward, along with redshirt sophomore midfielder Naeem Charles and senior defender Tanner Sica, all posted an assist in the Blackbirds' opening matches. Sophomore goalkeeper Cole Palmer recorded 4 saves in LIU's loss to UNC Asheville.
ABOUT THE BONNIES
St. Bonaventure is 1-1 on the season, after upsetting NJIT 2-1 in overtime and then dropping 1-0 to Hartwick. Sophomore midfielder Kieran Toland scored the only two goals for the Bonnies against NJIT and leads the team with five shots on the year and three shots on goal, while freshman midfielder/forward Kosi Nwafornso has taken four shots. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Bobby Diaz recorded 15 saves in the first two games of the season.
ABOUT THE RIVER HAWKS
UMass Lowell is 1-1 on the season, winning their home opener against Monmouth 1-0, then falling 0-2 to Utah Valley. Redshirt freshman forward Paul Beatty scored the only goal for the River Hawks so far this season, while freshman midfielder Edward Venta-Yepes leads the team with four shots on the year and has one shot on goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Austin Kroll recorded three saves in the first two matches.
ALL-TIME SERIES
LIU Brooklyn has faced St. Bonaventure once before in 1984, when the Blackbirds defeated the Bonnies 5-0.
This will be the first meeting between the Blackbirds and River Hawks.
UP NEXT
The Blackbirds will go back on the road to face Rider on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 7:00 p.m. at Ben Cohen Field. On Sunday, Sept. 13, LIU will travel to Sweeney Field to take on Saint Joseph's at 6:00 p.m.