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Brookville, NY -- The two-time NEC Men's Soccer Player of the Year delivered another trademark performance when it mattered most in Sunday's conference final.
Emil Jaaskelainen, the brilliant LIU senior striker, scored the game's lone goal of the match in the first half to propel the second-seeded Sharks to their sixth NEC Tournament title with a 1-0 win over fourth-seeded Sacred Heart at LIU Soccer Park in Brookville, NY.
The Sharks have now won eight overall NEC Championships with the first two coming in the pre-tournament era back in the mid-80s.
LIU (10-5-3) will now represent the NEC in the NCAA College Cup. The Sharks will learn their opponent during Monday's NCAA Selection Show at 1 pm on NCAA.com. In LIU's last NCAA appearance back in 2021, the Sharks knocked off Maryland in the first round.
LIU dominated the run of play in the first half, but the SHU (6-8-5) defense held its ground until there were six minutes remaining.
Jaaskelainen struck for the Sharks in the 38th minute, rising high for a powerful back post header from six yards out on a perfectly placed corner service from Alan Martinez. The goal was his league-leading 11th of the season and 42nd of his decorated career.
The Sharks finished the first half with an 9-2 edge in shots and a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks.
LIU continued to press and nearly added a second tally in the 59th minute when Ben Assane Fall's header found the feet of NEC Rookie of the Year Joshua Saavadra, who drove a low shot that was kick saved by SHU keeper Andrew Hammersley.
Sacred Heart pushed hard for the equalizer in the latter stages of the match on a series of offensive flurries.
The Pioneers' best opportunity came when Aidan Borra ran down a service into the box, but his hard shot was blocked by a defender in front or the net with just under eight minutes to play.
SHU had one last chance on a set piece with 20 seconds remaining, but LIU keeper Eoin Gawronski made a terrific diving save on Matthias Dick's bending, 20-yard free kick. The Pios' Giovanni Amato was there for the rebound, but a prone Gawronski denied the final opportunity.
LIU junior midfielder Alan Martinez was named the NEC Tournament MVP. Along with assisting on Jaaskelainen's game-winner, he also scored the first goal in the Sharks' 2-1 overtime win over FDU in Thursday's semis. Jaaskelainen was chosen to the All-Tournament team, along with Gawronski and André Puente.
Borra, Hammersley and Alex Almuzara earned All-Tournament recognition for SHU.
Gawronski's fourth clean sheet of the year included two saves, while Hammersley, who starred for SHU in its two NEC Tournament PK shootout wins, stopped seven shots.
LIU ended the game outshooting SHU, 14-9, and finished with seven corner kicks, compared to two for the Pioneers.
Jaaskelainen fired a game-high five shots, three of which were on frame. Fall added four shots for the Sharks.
The team hosting the final has now won seven straight NEC Tournament crowns and are 13-3 overall since 1998. The last true road team to win an NEC final was St. Francis Brooklyn in 2014.
All-Tournament Team
Alan Martinez, LIU (MVP)
Emil Jaaskelainen, LIU
Eoin Gawronski, LIU
André Puente, LIU
Alex Almuzara, SHU
Aidan Borra, SHU
Andrew Hammersley, SHU
Andreas Blaaholm, FDU
Spencer King, FDU
Julian Jakopovic, SFU
Tom Schellbach, SFU