College Beat: Johnson kicks Blackbirds to first win of season

September 12, 2012 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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Senior Jakeem Johnson finally got the LIU-Brooklyn men’s soccer team on the scoreboard and in the win column last Saturday afternoon.

After being outscored 10-0 during a season-opening four-game losing streak, the Blackbirds (1-4) were desperate to get off the schneid in their home opener against visiting Rider at LIU Field.

Johnson, who ranked second on last year’s squad with three goals and eight points, made sure LIU didn’t have to go yet another week wondering when, or if, it would ever score.

The Montclair, N.J., forward got the golden opportunity to snap a scoreless deadlock in the 60th minute after Blackbird freshman Tanner Sica was pulled down in the penalty area. Johnson was called upon to take the penalty kick, and promptly beat Broncs netminder Matt Perrella to the left side of the net to give LIU a hard-earned 1-0 advantage.

Senior goaltender Nathan Stockie made sure the lead held up over the final half-hour of the match, halting a blast from Rider’s Ryan Fitzgerald at the 69-minute mark for his lone save en route to the shutout win. The Blackbirds were scheduled to host Fairfield Wednesday evening at 6 p.m.

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The St. Francis College men’s squad is likely eager to load up on some home cooking as well after falling to 1-4 on its season-opening five-game road trip with last Sunday’s 3-2 loss to George Mason in Fairfax, Va.

Junior forward Gabriel Bagot and senior Richie Arkoi scored for the Terriers, who also suffered a 3-1 loss to American University during the George Mason Invitational Tournament last Friday.

Terriers goalkeeper Tyler Clarhaut hopes to rebound from a costly misplay against the Patriots on Sunday when he takes the net for Saturday’s home opener against Howard University at Brooklyn’s Aviator Sports Complex.

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Senior midfielder Allen Rohr set up three scores and sophomore forward Andres Torres tallied twice Monday night at Aviator as the NYU-Polytechnic men’s soccer squad rolled to a 5-1 rout of Skyline Conference rival Purchase College.

The Jays, who improved to 2-3 overall and 2-0 in league action, opened the scoring for the first time this season when Torres accepted a feed from Rohr and planted a left-footed blast into the right side of the netting in the 10th minute.

NYU-Poly senior Nick Michalczewski provided what proved to be the go-ahead goal as he made an unassisted run to give the Jays a 2-1 lead three minutes into the second half.

“It was great to see us break out of our offensive slump,” said Jays head coach Nate Kalin. “We have been playing so well, but not capitalizing on our opportunities. Tonight we capitalized.”

NYU-Poly will return to the pitch Saturday afternoon when it hosts Brooklyn rival St. Joseph’s College at 1 p.m.

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Seniors Evelyn Calderon and Katie Egan were named to the All-Tournament Team during the LIU-Brooklyn women’s soccer team’s disappointing weekend at the Black Knight Classic in West Point, N.Y.

After dropping a tough 2-1 decision to Syracuse last Friday, the Blackbirds (1-5) suffered a 4-0 blanking at the hands of undefeated Iowa (8-0) in Sunday’s tournament finale.

LIU returns home for a non-conference match against Saint Peter’s Friday at 6:p.m.

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The Blackbirds bested Hofstra in four sets Tuesday night to even their record at 5-5. Photo courtesy of LIU-Brooklyn Athletics

Sophomore Annika Foit registered 20 kills and 11 digs and second-year setter Vera Djuric racked up 42 assists Tuesday as the LIU-Brooklyn volleyball team evened its record at 5-5 with a three sets to one triumph over Hofstra in Hempstead, N.Y.

Freshman Adriana Vinas Joy, the reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Week, had a team-high 14 digs for LIU, which will host the annual Blackbird Invitational this weekend. NJIT, St. John’s and Maryland will be competing in the event, which kicks off Friday.

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In other local sports news, Brooklyn’s own John Phillips will be lacing them up for the FDNY Boxing Team Friday night at the Resorts World Casino in Queens as the city’s Bravest take on the New England Law Enforcement fighters at the first-ever bgoxing show held at an NYC casino.

The night will include 12 three-round bouts with FDNY members squaring off against members of New England Law Enforcement.

The FDNY Bravest Boxing Team donates all proceeds earned from its bouts after expenses to various charitie, including the Wounded Warrior Project, Building Homes for Heroes, the New York Firefighters Burn Center, the American Cancer Society and the American Red Cross.

Tickets are available at www.fdnyboxing.eventbrite.com.