BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- After playing five of its last six games on the road, the LIU Brooklyn women's soccer team will return to its home field to face Seton Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. Three days later, the team will trek to Saint Francis U. to take on the defending Northeast Conference champions on Saturday to open conference play.

BLACKBIRDS AT HOME
The Blackbirds (2-6-1) fell to Yale and Binghamton last week in their last two road non-conference games of the season. But on the familiar confines of LIU Field, the home team has outscored their three opponents 6-3 and stand 2-1 on campus. Senior Marian Awad, a two-time NEC Player of the Week leads the team with five goals (10 points) on the year.

SETON HALL OUTLOOK
The Pirates (2-3-3) have also relied on their defense this season, yielding only four goals in eight games with senior Anna MacLean in the net for every play. Meanwhile, the Seton Hall offense has managed to score only three goals, by three different players. Like LIU, its the Hall's last tuneup before conference play on the weekend, as they will face Big East foe DePaul next.

SAINT FRANCIS U. OUTLOOK
The Red Flash (2-6-2) have also hit a tough stretch against strong opponents, losing their last four games by a combined 9-0 score. SFU, the winners of the last two NEc titles under longtime head coach Brenda van Stralen, will have the entire week to prepare for the Blackbirds on Saturday at 1 p.m. They are led by junior forward Alyssa McGhee (2 goals, 3 assists), the 2017 NEC Offensive Player of the Year.

UP NEXT:
The Blackbirds will start gearing up for a pair of home NEC clashes against Mount St. Mary's next Friday and Sacred Heart two days later, Sunday, Sept. 30 at 1 p.m.. when the team will honor their 2018 senior class.