Tickets | Live Stream | Live Stats | LIU Match Notes (PDF) | West Virginia Match Notes (PDF)

MORGANTOWN, W.V. – The LIU Brooklyn men's soccer team's journey to the 2018 NCAA College Cup begins Thursday, November 15, as the Blackbirds take on No. 18 West Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The two teams will square off at the Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION
Tickets are available at WVUGAME.com, by calling 1-800 WVU GAME, at the Mountaineer Ticket Office at the WVU Coliseum or on match day at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for students and children under 12 on game day, and $3 for groups of 10 or more when purchased in advance. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance at WVUGAME.com to avoid lines at the gate on game day.
 
To provide a safer environment for Mountaineer fans and to expedite entry into all ticketed WVU athletic events, the West Virginia Department of Intercollegiate Athletics enforces the NFL's Clear Bag Policy. The athletic department invites and encourages fans to visit WVUsports.com/clearbag for more information, to view pictures of permissible and non-permissible items and to obtain answers to frequently asked questions about the clear bag policy.
 
The match will be streamed live for free on WVUsports.com/Watch and the WVU Gameday App, while fans also can watch the stream live via Roku and Apple TV by searching for the "West Virginia Mountaineers" channel. Live stats will be available at NCAA.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Blackbirds are coming off their second Northeast Conference championship title in the last four years. LIU beat Fairleigh Dickinson, 1-0, and Bryant, 4-0, to claim the NEC's automatic bid to the tournament.

The Blackbirds are making their 15th NCAA Championship appearance and first since 2015. The Blackbirds are 7-13-2 all-time in NCAA play, including a national runner-up finish in 1966, and a semifinal appearance in 1967.
 
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
West Virginia (13-6-0) is making their 13^th NCAA Championship appearance, and first since 2011. WVU, ranked No. 18 in the nation, earned an at-large bid to the tournament after winning the Mid-American Conference regular season. All-time, WVU is 5-12-0 in the NCAA Tournament and 4-2-0 at home.
 
The Mountaineers are led by senior midfielder Joey Piatczyc, who has seven goals and seven assists this year, and was named the MAC Player of the Year. WVU ranks in the top 20 in the nation in multiple offensive categories, including total assists (5th – 46), points (10^th – 122), and goals (15^th – 38).
 
NEC HONOREES
In a post-season poll of the Northeast Conference's coaches, sophomore Erik Johansson was named the NEC Defensive Player of the Year, freshman Sam Ilin was named the NEC Rookie of the Year, and head coach TJ Kostecky and his staff were named the NEC Coaching Staff of the Year.

Kostecky and his staff of Bradley Johnson, Patrick Gray and Bernie Hernando, earned the honor from their peers for the first time since 2015. Kostecky has now led LIU to two NEC championship titles in the last four years, with the veteran head coach and his assistants earning NEC Coaching Staff of the Year honors on both occasions. Under Kostecky, the Blackbirds have finished with double-digit wins in three of the last four seasons and won their third NEC title in his tenure. As a team, LIU Brooklyn reeled off nine straight wins at one point, and have won 12 of their last 14, finishing 6-2 in conference play. The Blackbirds rank second in the NEC in goals per game (1.56) and second in goals against average (1.14) heading into the tournament.

Additionally, the Blackbirds had a league-best seven athletes recognized on the All-NEC teams. Seniors Rasmus Hansen and Filip Nordström, junior Marius Koss and sophomore Fredrik Mathisen earned first team All-NEC honors, while Ilin was named second team All-NEC, and both Ilin and classmate Huib Achterkamp were named to the NEC's All-Rookie team.

UP NEXT: NCAA SECOND ROUND
The winner between WVU and LIU Brooklyn will advance to the NCAA Championship Second Round to face No. 13-seeded Georgetown on Sunday, November 18, in Washington, D.C.