Box Score BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn men's soccer team (2-3) fell to Rider, 2-0, on Friday night. After a scoreless first half, the Broncs (3-1) gained momentum midway through the second half and scored twice en route to victory.

The Blackbirds had early opportunities to score at the start of the game. In the 2^nd minute, freshman Rasmus Hansen jumpstarted the offense with a shot that hit the crossbar and was recovered by redshirt sophomore Naeem Charles, who got a second shot off for the Blackbirds, but was saved by the Broncs' goalkeeper.
 
LIU had the first five shots of the game, including one from redshirt freshman Romario Guscott, who has two goals on the season, and senior captain Tanner Sica, whose shot missed just wide of the goal.
 
Sophomore keeper Cole Palmer made his first of three saves in the 27^th minute, when Rider forward Elliot Otmani tried to find the back of net. The game would remain scoreless going into the second half.
 
Hestnes continued to lead the LIU offense early in the second half, getting two consecutive shots off in the 49^th minute. The first was blocked by the Broncs' defense, then collected by Hestnes, whose second shot went high. Otmani would challenge Palmer again in the 55^th minute, but Palmer would come up with save.
 
The first goal came in the 64^th minute, when Rider's Florian Valot scored off of a corner kick. Otmani found the back of the net on a shot from 15 yards in the 73^rd minute to put the Broncs up 2-0. Guscott had the final shot of the game for the Balckbirds in the 83^rd minute, missing high.
 
UP NEXT
The Blackbirds travel to Philadelphia on Sunday, Sept. 13, to take on Saint Joseph's at 6:00 p.m.