Jackson Leads Long Island Past Quinnipiac, 2-1

(boxscore)

10/13/06 -- Senior Lizelle Jackson (Burbank, Calif.) tallied her first two collegiate goals to push Long Island University women’s soccer to a 2-1 win over Quinnipiac on a cold Friday evening at LIU Field.

With the win, LIU (7-6-1, 4-0 NEC) stretches its home unbeaten streak to 23 games, tied for 12th best all-time in NCAA history. For the Bobcats (8-3-2, 2-1-2), the loss halts a six match unbeaten streak.

Senior midfielder Christine Gans (Pittsburgh, Pa.) drew a foul on the near right side to set up the first score in the fifth minute. Sophomore defender Nicole Allen (Spencer, Mass.) took a free kick from 30 yards out, sending the ball into the box and off the foot of Jackson.

Fourteen minutes later, the Bobcats knotted the contest behind a goal from junior Kate Lissfelt. Freshman Amber Sidoti was able to turn on her defender and squeeze a ball past a pair of Blackbirds and into the box. LIU goalkeeper Stephanie Kansky, coming out to challenge, instead saw the ball slide into the net to tie the game, 1-1.

The Blackbirds scored the game-winner in a similar fashion in the 49th minute. Gans picked up her team-best seventh assist, pushing the ball from the right side. With QU goalie Sarah Lusto charging out of the cage, Jackson lightly tapped the ball and squirted it past an outstretched Lusto.

With LIU down a player, QU had a game-tying opportunity halted with nine seconds remaining in the match as Kansky stopped a point blank shot by Sidoti.

In a rematch of last year’s NEC final, the Blackbirds host Central Connecticut State on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 1:00 p.m.