The LIU Sharks Football program finished its first-ever Division-I season winless in 2019. But, the Sharks are looking to build off it by establishing team leaders and making history. It did not take long for both to happen.
Anthony Lavio became the program’s first player to earn Preseason All-Northeast Conference honors, on Thursday, July 23rd. The voting was determined by the league’s coaching staffs. The defensive lineman recorded 25 tackles, five tackles for loss and one forced fumble in the Sharks D-I debut season.
The lineman made 42 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks in 2018. He will be entering his fifth season at LIU.
Lavio played three seasons of varsity football with the Longwood Lions. He recorded 66 career tackles, 12 sacks and forced three fumbles. The lineman was named to the All-Division, All-Long Island and All-State teams and helped win the 2015 Long Island Championship.
LIU was predicted to finish last out of the seven teams listed. Merrimack was not included in the preseason predicted standings due to its ongoing reclassification into the D-I Football Championship Subdivision. Reigning conference champion Central Connecticut topped the poll and earned every head coach’s first-place vote.
The NEC 2020 Fall Sports season is currently scheduled to begin on Thursday, September 10. Football teams are allowed to start earlier ‘as per institutional discretion.’ The Sharks will open their season against the Montana State Bobcats on Saturday, Sept. 5 in Bozeman, M.T. Opening kickoff time has not been determined.
