I've seen all the NCAA Division I football and basketball venues in New York City, so now it is on to other sports. One venue that I had been meaning to see is Brooklyn Bridge Park, where St. Francis Brooklyn soccer plays.
Located just across the East River from Lower Manhattan, the park provides spectacular views of the skyline, as you can see below. The team plays on Pier 5 and you can get here by walking down Joralemon Street under the BQE. I biked the 9 miles from home using CitiBike, but the Court Street train stop is about 15 minutes away on foot.
There is no admission fee and there are several benches along the west side that afford the view you see above. No food or drink is sold either, so bring your own. I expected just a few dozen fans would be in attendance, but there were 426 on hand to see the Terriers take on the Howard Bison in early season action. Most were associated with one of the two programs (i.e. friends and family) but a few were passersby who stopped in to watch on a perfect afternoon. This might be the most scenic spot in NCAA sports, and certainly one of the least known.
The game was more entertaining than expected, with St. Francis scoring 3 excellent goals, including a superb free kick from Marco Torriani for the only goal of the first half. After Howard tied it off a corner, St. Francis regained the lead on a diving header from Ali Tounkara who finished a perfect cross from Amir Islami, the top play in the NEC that week. The Terriers clinched it when Matteo Caribotti slammed home another perfect pass from Islami as they went on to win 3-1. The scoreboard is barely visible in the middle of the frame, with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background.
A good game by the home team, who showed some quality finishing. I don't think any MLS scouts were in attendance, but they would have been impressed. Highlights are on YouTube and worth watching for the goals, if not the view.
Best,
Sean
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