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Fridman_Martinez_Mollica_MSOC_FDU_NECSemi_20231109
Adam Rubin
L to R: Jack Fridman, Alan Martinez and Michael Mollica celebrate postgame.
1
FDU FDU (8-5-5, 4-1-3)
2
Winner LIU LIU (9-5-3, 5-1-2)
FDU FDU
(8-5-5, 4-1-3)
1
Final
2
LIU LIU
(9-5-3, 5-1-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 F
FDU FDU 0 1 0 0 1
LIU LIU 1 0 0 1 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Adam Rubin

NEC FINALS BOUND! Rookie of Year Joshua Saavedra Scores Winner in OT in NEC Semifinal

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. — The LIU men's soccer team advanced to the NEC championship match in dramatic fashion. And NEC Rookie of the Year Joshua Saavedra again supplied the heroics.

The second-seeded Sharks defeated third-seeded FDU, 2-1, after Saavedra scored in the second overtime period on Thursday at LIU Soccer Park.

LIU then headed inside to watch fourth-seeded Sacred Heart oust top-seeded Saint Francis U in penalty kicks in the other semifinal. As a result, LIU will host the Pioneers in the conference final on Sunday at noon, with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament at stake.

Saavedra scored the winner 30 seconds into the second overtime period when he drilled home the rebound of NEC Player of the Year Emil Jaaskelainen's shot off the crossbar.

"I got the rebound and I was in the right place," Saavedra said. "I'm really happy. I'm really proud of the team. All of this work, and now we're going to the finals."

The Sharks had leapfrogged FDU in the standings with a win against the Knights in Teaneck, N.J., one week earlier. That had resulted in FDU needing to defeat sixth-seeded Le Moyne in a quarterfinal game on Sunday. LIU then hosted the rematch against FDU in the NEC semifinals.

FDU had enjoyed a 17-match unbeaten streak against NEC opponents before suffering the consecutive defeats at the hands of the Sharks. 

Saavedra, a freshman from Miami, scored the game-winner in both victories.

FDU played most of the two 10-minute overtime periods on Thursday down a man after picking up a red card in the 91st minute.

Alan Martinez had staked the Sharks to a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute, but FDU nabbed the equalizer on a goal from Andreas Blaaholm in the 80th minute.

Also on Thursday, captain Robert Winkler came off the bench and logged 48 minutes in his first action since Sept. 13. Winkler, a center back who plans to enter medical school in his native Germany after this academic year, had missed nearly two months with a foot injury. 

As for the finals matchup, LIU defeated Sacred Heart, 2-1, on Oct. 1 in Fairfield, Conn., courtesy of a pair of goals from Jaaskelainen.
 
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