BOX SCORE Loretto, Pa. - The Saint men's soccer team (8-7, 1-3 NEC) conceded a goal six minutes after tying the match at 1-1 and it proved to be a difference in a 2-1 loss at LIU Brooklyn.

Turning Point

Freshman Gabriel Castro (Belo Horizonte, Brazil/Lausanne Collegiate School) netted his first career goal in the 63rd minute to temporarily knot the score at 1-1 but the Blackbirds' Naeem Charles answered with a stunning goal in the 69th minute.

Highlights

• Saint Francis senior goalkeeper Marcus Rojas (Fremont, Calif./Bellarmine College Preparatory) and LIU goalkeeper Anthony Sciola both made big saves in the first half. Rojas was first to do so early in the contest with a diving save to preserve a 0-0 scoreline.
• Sophomore forward Kyle Moerschbacher (State College, PA/State College) had SFU's top chance when he streaked in on goal down the right side but his shot was stopped by a sprawling Sciola.
• It appeared the teams would head into the locker room all square at 0-0 but LIU Brooklyn's Rasmus Hansen found the net with just seven seconds left in the half. 
• Castro tied things up in the 63rd minute with a fantastic strike from the top of the 18-yard box inside the far post.
• Charles scored an equally impressive goal in the 69th minute, turning on top of the box and curling a left-footed shot into the top corner.
• Junior Mario Mastrangelo (Venetia, Pa/Peters Township) had Saint Francis's best opportunity to tie the match when he got free down the right side of the box but his shot was pulled just wide of the post.

Notes

• It was an even match across the entire 90 minutes as shots favored the Red Flash 8-7 and shots on goal were 5-4 for the Blackbirds.
• Corner kicks were even at 2-2.
• Castro led Saint Francis with two shots.
• Rojas made three saves.
• Saint Francis is in jeopardy of missing the NEC playoffs for the first time since 2011 and will most likely need to win out over its final three matches. The Red Flash hasn't missed the playoffs since the league was shortened to eight teams in 2013

Up Next

The first of the final three matches is on Sunday, Oct. 22, at St. Francis Brooklyn at 1 p.m. in a rematch of last year's NEC Final.