BROOKVILLE, N.Y. -- The Long Island University football team will return to Shark Stadium Saturday, Oct. 3, hosting Mercyhurst for the start of NEC play at 12 p.m. 

The game will be televised digitally on ESPN+, with Paul Dottino and Kevin Gilbride on the call. 

Quick Facts

-DEFENSIVE ANCHOR: Rafael Fasolino led the LIU defense with 10 tackles against the Wildcats back on Sept. 19, but it certainly wasn't the first time the redshirt-senior linebacker has served as his team's anchor on that end of the field. Fasolino's tackle tally tied a season-high, not only marking the second time he's reached double-digits, but the third time in four weeks he led the Sharks in tackles. Along the way, he's garnered one NEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week award and three Prime Performer nods this season. He added 5 more tackles against FIU on Sept. 26.

-SEASON-HIGH PERFORMANCES: As mentioned, Fasolino has been a top performer on defense for the Sharks this season. However, two members of the squad matched his Sharks' season-high mark of ten tackles against FIU last week. LJ Hall and Jackson Barry emerged as bright spots for LIU in the Sept. 26 matchup. Each player finished with a team-high 10 tackles (3 solo, 7 assisted apiece), becoming the second and third players for the Sharks to amass double-digit tackles this season.

-NEC RECOGNITION: After the likes of Fasolino, Callum Brent, and Will Johnson went on to win 'Player of the Week'-esque honors from the NEC in previous weeks, Felix Matos followed suit with an NEC Prime Performer nod this week. The sophomore had a season-high six tackles, forcing two fumbles in the Sharks' contest against FIU. 

-LOOKING AHEAD: After matching up with Mercyhurst for the start of NEC play, LIU hits the road for two upcoming matchups, against against Duquesne (Oct. 10) and Wagner (Oct. 17).