History
In 2019, the Division I LIU-Brooklyn Blackbirds and Division II LIU-Post Pioneers combined all athletic programs, including men's soccer. [2] Beginning with the 2019 season, they compete as the LIU Sharks.
The NEC began hosting conference tournaments in 1989. LIU has been NEC tournament champions in 1997, 2004, 2015, 2018, 2021, 2023, and 2024. [3]
LIU has been to the NCAA tournament in 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1997, 2004, 2015, 2018, 2021, 2023, and 2024. [4]
LIU began play in 1933 as LIU Brooklyn, finishing 3-3-1 in their first season. LIU-Post began play in 1959, with a 7-11-0 record. [5]
The Sharks made their NCAA tournament debut at the 1963 NCAA soccer tournament. They lost their first-ever tourney game in the Sweet 16 to Bridgeport 3-1.
LIU lost in the Sweet 16 of the 1965 NCAA soccer tournament to Army, who went on to the 1965 College Cup (Final 4).
At the 1966 NCAA soccer tournament, LIU had its greatest NCAA tournament run in school history, making it to the national championship game, where they lost 5-2 to San Francisco.
A year after their loss in the title game, the Sharks returned to College Cup (Final 4) at the 1967 NCAA soccer tournament, where they lost 4-0 to Michigan State.
After a four year absence from the NCAA tournament, LIU returned in 1971 in the 24-team format. LIU lost in the first round to Cornell, 2-1.
In 1972, LIU defeated NYU 2-1 in the first round to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. In the Sweet 16, they again lost to Cornell, 3-2.
In the team's third straight NCAA tournament appearance in 1973, LIU lost 3-2 to Hartwick College in the 1st round.
The 1977 NCAA tournament appearance ended with a 2-1 first round loss to Cornell. The third team in four appearances the Sharks were knocked out by Cornell.
In the 1981 NCAA Division I soccer tournament, LIU was awarded an auto-bid to the Sweet 16. In the Sweet 16 they defeated Columbia 1-0 in 4OT to advance to the Elite 8 for the first time since 1967. In the Elite 8, they were eliminated by UConn, the eventual national champions.
In 1982, LIU received a near identical outcome to their 1981 appearance. In the Sweet 16 the Sharks defeated Columbia 3-1 to advance to the Elite 8. In the Elite 8, UConn eliminated them 1-0. UConn, the defending national champs fell in the Final 4.
LIU lost in the first round of the 1985 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament to Columbia 3-1.
The Sharks received an auto bid to the Sweet 16 at the 1986 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament but lost 3-2 to Hartwick College.
After the team’s 1986 NCAA tournament appearance, they would not return to the tournament until the 1997 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament 11 years later. LIU lost to Boston University 1-0 in the NCAA tournament play-in game.
In 2004, LIU returned to the NCAA tournament after a seven year absence with a first round 3-0 loss to American in the 48-team tourney.
At the 2015 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament, LIU lost in the first round in penalties to Rutgers.
In the 2018 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament, LIU lost in the first round to West Virginia 4-2.
At the 2021 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament, the Sharks defeated Maryland 1-0 in the first round of the tournament. In the round of 32, they were defeated 5-1 by Saint Louis.
In 2023, LIU defeated Sacred Heart 1-0 to win the NEC championship and the conference’s automatic NCAA tournament berth. In the 2023 NCAA tournament, the Sharks lost 2-1 to Denver in round 1.
In 2024, LIU won the NEC championship in penalties over FDU after 2OT. In the 2024 NCAA tournament, the Sharks lost 5-2 to Maryland in the 1st round in College Park, Maryland.
