BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn men's soccer team maintained its perfect record at home Friday evening on LIU Field, as the Blackbirds blanked Sacred Heart, 5-0. Junior Naeem Charles and sophomore Rasmus Hansen each netted two goals in the win, while freshman Giuseppe Barone had a goal and two assists for LIU. Senior goalkeeper Logan Keys had his second shutout win of the season, facing 11 Pioneer shots and making two saves.

The Blackbirds got on the board in the third minute of play. LIU had a free kick about 25 yards out, and Hansen was able to put it in the back of the net, with help from a deflection off the Pioneers' defensive wall. Sacred Heart had three shots over the next 20 minutes that the defense deflected, including a save for Keys on a straightaway shot.

Hansen would strike again for the Blackbirds right around the 27^th minute. After an SHU foul in the box, Hansen was awarded a penalty kick, and snuck it past the Pioneer keeper to give LIU the 2-0 advantage. LIU's last goal of the half came with one second left to play. Charles was able to chip the ball in over SHU's sliding keeper to give the Blackbirds the 3-0 lead headed into the break.

In the first half, the two teams had a balanced stat line, but in the second half, LIU dialed up the offense, and would out-shoot the Pioneers, 15-5. In the 55^th minute, the Blackbirds had their first real chance to score, when sophomore Filip Nordström had a shot from the corner for LIU. SHU was able to deflect the shot, but freshman Marius Koos and sophomore Simen Hestnes each had shots off the rebounds to give the Pioneers a scare.

Charles would score again in the 66^th minute, connecting with Barone's cross to sneak it past SHU's net-minder, widening the Blackbird lead to 4-0. And six minutes later, the freshman would get a goal of his own. After forcing a Sacred Heart turnover right outside the box, Barone would take off, and was able to slip the ball in the near corner for the fifth and final goal of the game.

With the victory, LIU moves to 9-4-2 overall, and 3-1-1 in Northeast Conference. Up next, the Blackbirds host Fairleigh Dickinson for the final home game of the regular season, Friday, October 29 at 5 p.m.