BROOKLYN, N.Y. – CHAMPIONSHIP BOUND! The LIU men's soccer team earned a spot in the Northeast Conference championship game Monday afternoon. The Sharks needed some help to get there, but by tying St. Francis Brooklyn, 0-0, and by virtue of Sacred Heart's win over CCSU, LIU will have a rematch with the Terriers Friday, April 16 in the NEC Championship game.
 
The rematch will be a battle, as Monday's game was. The two teams played 110 minutes of intense soccer, with 10 yellow cards, and over 30 fouls called. The two teams were nearly identical with shots (10 and 9), and shots on net (4 and 4), with each keeper making four saves.
 
LIU's goalkeeper Demetri Skoumbakis made perhaps the biggest save of the season in the 73rd minute. A foul in the box gave the Terriers a penalty kick. Skoumbakis dove to the right and made the save, keeping the score knotted at 0-0. He also made a save in the 104th minute that kept the shutout intact.
 
With the tie, the Sharks finish the NEC season with a 3-1-3 record, good for second place in the standings.  The Terriers finish the year with a 5-1-1 record, as the regular season champions and the tournament hosts. #2 seed LIU will take on #1 seed SFBK, Friday, April 16 at 1 p.m.