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BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The defending Northeast Conference champion LIU Brooklyn men's soccer team will begin defense of its league title on Friday, October 7 with a road matchup with Bryant in Rhode Island. Two days later, the Blackbirds will host Central Connecticut in another conference contest at LIU Field beginning at 2:00 p.m.
LIU put together its best non-league record since 1992, going 6-3-1 including a victory over No. 22 Rider. The Blackbirds are currently ranked fourth in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Northeast Region poll, and are the top-ranked team in the NEC ahead of sixth-ranked Saint Francis U. The Broncs, who hold a 6-2-1 overall record, are first in the Northeast region followed by American and Colgate.
Sophomore Romario Guscott and freshman Giuseppe Barone earned recognition from the league for their roles in LIU's most recent victory, a 2-1, overtime win over NJIT on Sept. 28. Barone, who earned his second NEC Rookie of the Week award, scored the first goal of the contest while Guscott, who picked up his first career NEC Player of the Week honor, scored the game winner in the 94th minute.
Guscott is tied for the team lead with four goals on the season, along with junior Naeem Charles and sophomore Simen Hestnes. Sophomore Rasmus Hansen has accumulated seven assists on the year to lead the squad and is tied for third nationally in the category. Hansen and Hestnes each have 13 points to pace the Blackbirds.
The Bulldogs (1-8-0) enter having played an extremely tough non-conference schedule which included matches against nationally-ranked Denver, New Hampshire and UMass Lowell. Bryant has scored just five times through nine matches this season, with five different players each recording a goal. Jake Lamar has a goal and an assist to lead the team with three points.
Central Connecticut (1-7-2) begins league play on Sunday against the Blackbirds and has dropped each of its last three contests by virtue of shutout. Daquan King has a team-high two goals for CCSU, while Nick Velleca and Carson D'Ambrosio have split time in goal.