Box Score

TEANECK, N.J. — For the second consecutive season, the LIU men's soccer team earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament with a 0-0 victory that the Sharks won in penalty kicks, 5-4, over Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday.

After 110 minutes of scoreless action, the game was decided in the penalty shootout. Senior goalkeeper Eoin Gawronski blocked an attempt by Fairleigh Dickinson's Eric Dlabal to give the Sharks the advantage in the second round of penalties. Junior defender Niklas Thanhofer sealed the win with a shot into the left side of the net.

"I made a decision to come back another year with the main goal to win a second ring," Gawronski said. "The boys and everyone fought to the final whistle, and hard work pays off in the end. We have belief as a team. Every year, we're building a foundation and a strong back line. Obviously, with the goalkeeper, it's so important in this game."

LIU had two shots in the first overtime period, with Stephane Njike taking a shot in the 91st minute and Christian Blank firing a shot toward the right corner of the net in the 96th minute. FDU's Spencer King saved both attempts, sending the game into another overtime period.

Stephane Njike, Jeremy Guardado, Londell Wheeler, and Sam Keogan earned All-NEC Tournament Team honors, while LIU senior midfielder Alan Martinez was named Tournament MVP for the second consecutive year.

The victory marked back-to-back championships for the Sharks and their seventh Northeast Conference (NEC) title in program history. The win also ended a 10-year streak of true road teams failing to capture an NEC title. LIU had previously upset No. 2 seed Saint Francis, 4-1, before defeating top-seeded FDU to secure its place in the NCAA Tournament.

With the win, LIU earned the NEC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Sharks will learn their tournament assignment during the NCAA Selection Show, which airs Monday at 1 p.m. on NCAA.com.