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BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn men's soccer team will host its final regular season home game of the 2016 season Friday, October 28, as the Blackbirds welcome Fairleigh Dickinson to LIU Field; kickoff is slated for 5 p.m.

CLASS OF 2017
Prior to the start of the game, the LIU Brooklyn men's soccer program will honor the four members of the graduation class of 2017: seniors Dennis Amvrosiatos, Ryan Herold, Logan Keys and Stephen Mensah.

LAST TIME OUT
LIU Brooklyn men's soccer team maintained its perfect record at home last Friday 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.

LEADING LIU
The Blackbirds continue to make waves as one of the top offensive teams in both the Northeast Conference and the nation. LIU currently ranks second in the nation in scoring offense, third in the country in points per game, fourth overall in both total goals and assists per game, and fifth overall in total assists. Sophomore Simen Hestnes ranks fifth in the country in assists per game, while Charles and Hansen are tied for 22nd overall in the NCAA in goals scored.

NEC HONOREES
The LIU Brooklyn men's soccer team took two of the Northeast Conference's major awards this week, as junior Naeem Charles was named the NEC Men's Soccer Player of the Week, and freshman Giuseppe Barone was named NEC Co-Rookie of the Week. It is the third honor for Barone this year, while Charles earns his first weekly award.

Charles was in top form on Friday with two goals on two shots in LIU Brooklyn's 5-0 win over Sacred Heart. The junior scored his first marker with one second remaining in the first half on a chip over the keeper to give LIU a 3-0 lead heading into the break. Charles added one more goal in the 66th minute, tipping the ball past SHU's netminder for a 4-0 lead. Charles leads the NEC in goals (nine), ranks second in points (23) and fourth in assists (five). He also ranks inside the top-20 nationally in goals and points.

Barone earns his third NEC Rookie of the Week honor after scoring a goal and adding a pair of assists in LIU Brooklyn's 5-0 win over Sacred Heart on Friday. The Brooklyn native assisted on both of NEC Player of the Week Naeem Charles' goals and capped it off by scoring LIU fifth goal of the day in the 73rd minute. The freshman currently ranks third in the NEC with six assists, and his 12 points is the sixth-best mark on the circuit.

SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
Fairleigh Dickinson comes into the weekend matchup with a tenuous hold on the fourth place spot in the conference, at 3-8-3, and 1-1-3 in the  NEC. The Knights are coming off of two draws last weekend, battling to 1-1 decisions with both Saint Francis U and CCSU. Last year when LIU and FDU faced off in New Jersey, the Blackbirds brought home the win, 3-2.

Senior forward Enver Cayman is the offensive draw for the Knight. He ranks eighth in the NEC in goals and is the team's top point scorer, with four goals and two assists. FDU has two goalies who have both seen significant playing time, but it's junior keeper Julian Murilla Toro who leads NEC in goals against average, at 0.78 in his six starts this season.

UP NEXT
The Blackbirds saved the best for last, and will take on local rival, current league-leader and thus far undefeated St. Francis Brooklyn, Sunday, November 6 at 1 p.m. LIU will travel a mile down the road to face off with the Terriers at Brooklyn Bridge Park, in a battle of what is almost guaranteed to be the top two seeds in the postseason tournament.