BROOKLYN, N.Y. - After 95 scoreless minutes in the Northeast Conference tournament semifinal, it was senior Rasmus Hansen who would end the game in favor of the LIU Brooklyn men's soccer team Friday afternoon on LIU Field. The Greve, Denmark native scored six minutes into the first overtime period against No. 4 seeded FDU to give LIU the 1-0 win, and send the top-seeded Blackbirds (12-5-1) to the NEC Championship game for the second straight year.

No. 1 seed LIU will take on No. 3 seed Bryant, who beat No. 2 seed Saint Francis, 2-1 in the first game of the day. The two teams will face off Sunday, November 11 at 1 p.m. on LIU Field.

In the first half of the game, the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights got many more chances than the Blackbirds did, with seven shots to LIU's two. The second half was the sloppier of the two, as it started raining in earnest early in the second period. Both teams would take chances, but both goalies stepped up big time in the slippery conditions. For the Blackbirds, freshman Sam Ilin made five saves in net to keep the Knights off the scoreboard, while FDU's Jahmali White made four saves. LIU would outshoot the Knights in the second period, 9-5, but neither team was able to get the ball in the net.

Heading into overtime, the Blackbirds controlled the ball for much of the time. Sophomore Fredrik Mathisen had a shot that went wide, and on FDU's goal kick, the Blackbirds were able to make a move. Hansen won the goal kick, and passed it off to Mathisen. Mathisen found a cutting Anthony Baltazar down the right field line, and the junior hit a cross right into the box. Though an FDU defender would get a head on it, Hansen, who was cutting downfield, would intercept the attempt at the top of the box, and one touch it into the bottom right corner of the net. With the goal, the Blackbirds took a 1-0 win over the Knights, and clinched a spot in the NEC Championship game.

Up next, the Blackbirds, led by NEC Coach of the Year TJ Kostecky, will host No. 3 seed Bryant for the NEC Championship game, Sunday, November 11 at 1 p.m. on LIU Field. Tickets will be available the day of the event at the host site. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $5 from senior citizens and children between the ages of 11-18. Children under the age of 11 and NEC students with an institutional I.D. will be admitted free. Fans can also stream the game for free on NECFrontRow.com.