NEC Release

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - LIU Brooklyn junior Rasmus Hansen was named the 2017 Northeast Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Year, it was announced by the league office at the annual banquet preceding the NEC Tournament Thursday night. Hansen was honored by the league's coaches, along with five of his teammates, as Hansen and Filip Nordstrom earned first team All-NEC honors, senior Naeem Charles earned second-team All-NEC, and freshmen Anthony Sciola and Erik Johansson were named to the All-Rookie team.

Hansen, a three-time first team All-NEC honoree, led the Blackbirds in goals (7) and points (18) during a regular season that saw the Blackbirds secure the #2 seed with a 4-2-1 league mark. He ranks third in the league in those two categories heading into the postseason. The Greve, Denmark product and former NEC Rookie of the Year became the second LIU player to win the NEC Player of the Year award in as many years. Hansen is also the fifth Blackbird to win the award in school history. Other LIU players to earn NEC Player of the Year honors include NEC Hall of Famer Giovanni Savarese (1992) and Roger Chavez, who won the inaugural award back in 1986.

Nordstrom earned the first postseason honors of his career in his junior year. The junior was a staple of LIU's defense and midfield transition, playing in 15 of LIU's 16 games, including 14 starts. He led the Blackbirds with six assists this season, and scored one goal.

Charles, who earned first team All-NEC honors last season, earned postseason honors for the second year in a row. The speedy forward played in every single one of LIU's 16 regular season games, scoring three goals and notching one assist.

The Blackbirds continued the tradition of freshman recognition from the league. Last season, Giuseppe Barone and Marius Koss were both named to the All-Rookie team. This year, Johansson and Sciola earned the honors.

Johansson started and played all 16 of LIU's games on the back line, never coming out of the games. He anchored a defense that held opponents to a 1.22 goals against average, fourth in the NEC.

Sciola was also a crucial part of that defensive effort. Playing in nine games towards the end of the season, he made an immediate impact at keeper. He finished the season ranked fourth in the conference in goals against average (1.02) and saves per game (4.44), and fifth in save percentage (.800). He's tallied 40 saves so far this season, along with two shutouts.

Up next, the Blackbirds begin postseason play with the semifinals of the NEC Tournament. The No.2 seeded Blackbirds take on No.3 seeded FDU, Friday, November 10 at 11 a.m. The contest, being hosted by top-seeded St. Francis Brooklyn, will take place at Brooklyn Bridge Park and will be streamed live on NEC Front Row.