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BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The stakes don't get any bigger for LIU Brooklyn men's soccer than for this Friday's home contest against local rival St. Francis Brooklyn. The Blackbirds will host the Terriers, Friday, November 3, in a Northeast Conference matchup with more than just borough bragging rights on the line. LIU (4-1-1 NEC) and St. Francis (5-0-1) will be fighting for a regular season NEC championship title, along with the chance to be the top seed in the postseason tournament, and earn the right to host the event along the way. The game, slated to kick off at 1 p.m., is winner take all. The Blackbirds have to win to earn the right to host, while a tie or an SFBK win means the Terriers take the tournament back to Brooklyn Bridge Park.
SCOUTING THE TERRIERS
St. Francis Brooklyn (11-4-1 overall) continues to dominate the NEC in large part due to their defense. Last season, the Terriers finished both the NEC regular season and tournament without giving up a single goal. And SFBK is still in top form, having given up just one goal in NEC play this year. Robert Morris became the first team to score on the Terriers in a 3-1 SFBK win earlier this year. The Terriers lead the conference in nearly every defensive category, including goals allowed, goals against average and shutouts.
Senior keeper Roberto Bazzichetto, a first team All-NEC honoree last season, has led his team to shutout wins in five of the last six games, and has a 0.95 goals against average this year.
Offensively, senior defender Dominick Falanga and junior forward Ali Tounkara are the team's top two point scorers. Falanga leads the team with five goals and an assist, while Tounkara has four goals and two assists. Senior midfielder Federico Curbelo has a team-high five assists. Beyond that, the Terriers have a balanced offensive effort, with four other players scoring at least twice, and three others who have found the net once.
The two teams have a storied history, especially in recent years. Though LIU leads the all time series, 27-21-4 dating back to 1970, SFBK has the most recent win, beating LIU 1-0 in the regular season finale last year. In 2015, the two teams faced off in the title game, with the Blackbirds winning on penalty kicks. LIU's win in 2015 broke up a streak for the Terriers, as SFBK won in 2013 and 2014, and took back the title in 2016.
UP NEXT
The 2017 Northeast Conference tournament will take place next weekend. Semifinals are scheduled for Friday, November 10, with the championship slated to take place on Sunday, November 12.