By: JAEQWON SUAREZ / MANAGING EDITOR
The Long Island University men’s soccer team has ended their season, winning back-to-back conference titles. Not only did the team succeed but multiple players were awarded with season honors.
The Sharks had an amazing season, where they finished second in the NEC with a record of 8-5-7 and went on to win their second straight conference championship against FDU. They ultimately fell in the opening round of the NCAA tournament against Maryland, losing 5-2.
Over the season, the team scored 27 goals with 26 assists, averaging about 11.8 shots per game. Compared to last season, their average shots have only decreased by about two, which is impressive considering the influx of new players that have joined the team.
The Sharks also had excellent defense, with 67 saves between both goalies with a save percentage of .714.
Even before the opening round of the College Cup began, the team was able to beat one of the top-seeded (FDU) in the conference with a kick-off, ending that game off with 5-4.
Ahead of the NCAA tournament, head coach Michael Mordocco reflected on the team’s back-to-back NEC championship wins and what it meant to head back to the College Cup.
“We earned this and we are excited to compete on the national stage once again,” he said.
Their victory marked the Sharks’ seventh NEC title, with it being the first time in ten years that a true road team won the championship. Coach Mordocco has led the team to six out of its eight to the finals in ten years.
Over this span, the LIU soccer team has pulled off many impressive feats in the College Cup. In 2021, they shocked the college soccer world with a 1-0 victory against Maryland. Last season, they went back and forth with Denver in a highly contested 2-1 game.
Awards
Eoin Gawronski earned Goalkeeper of the Year and First team All-Conference.Gawronski, originally from Pennsylvania, has been outstanding during his tenure with the Sharks.
Last season, he appeared in 15 matches with a record of 8-5-1 and a save percentage of .743. That was also his first time appearing on the NEC All-Tournament team.
This season and last season he was an NEC Prime Performer accomplishing many saves, such as producing a season high of seven saves on Sept. 29 against Chicago. That game marked Gawronski’s personal high and he averaged around six saves over the season.
The next Shark that has been recognized is none other than Alan Martinez, who has earned the NEC Tournament MVP, becoming the first student-athlete in NEC History to win the award twice.
Martinez has had an outstanding career, being on the NEC All-Rookie team in 2021 and starting all 17 matches in 2022.
The 2023 season would have Martinez be the Captain of the Sharks soccer team and like Gawronski, he was also an NEC Prime Performer. Martinez appeared in all 19 matches of 2023 and would later be on the NEC All-tournament team.
This season, he started all 20 matches tallying five goals and three assists. He was also an NEC Prime Performer as well, making it twice consecutively both for Martinez and Gawronski to earn that recognition.
Lastly, Stephane Njike was awarded the NEC Rookie of the Week. Njike, who is a freshman, has had an eventful first season, scoring his first NCAA Tournament goal against Maryland.
He has also been a Prime Performer for this season, ending with a record of six goals, 17 points and five assists.
The future of the Sharks soccer team is looking bright as they look to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. With coach Mordocco at the helm, the Sharks are optimistic heading into next season.
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