BROOKVILLE, N.Y.- In the first season as the NCAA Division I Sharks, the Long Island University field hockey team is gearing up for its first-ever appearance in the Northeast Conference Championship.
 
THE FIELD IS SET
For the first time since 2012, the NEC will crown a field hockey champion. The 2019 regular season concluded this past weekend and Fairfield University finished undefeated in conference play, earning the number one seed. Right behind the Stags, is Rider University who finished the conference season with a 5-1 record, securing the two seed. The Sharks earned the third seed in the tournament after finishing with a 4-2 mark in NEC play. Rounding out the last spot in the four-team bracket is Sacred Heart University, who finished the regular season with a 3-3 conference record.
 
Schedule
Semifinals - Friday, November 8
Game One: #1 Fairfield vs. #4 Sacred Heart – 11:30 a.m.
Game Two: #2 Rider vs. #3 LIU – 2:30 p.m.  
 
Championship- Sunday, November 10
Winner of game one vs. winner of game two- 12:00 p.m.
 
The winner of the NEC Championship will earn the conference's berth to the NCAA tournament. For all the information regarding the championship, visit the NEC Field Hockey Championship Headquarters here.
 
LAST TIME AGAINST RIDER
The Sharks are looking to get revenge from an earlier 2-1 loss at Rider this season. The Broncs got on the scoreboard first, taking a 1-0 lead during the first minute of the second quarter. Rider extended its lead to two midway through the third quarter. Junior forward Sammy Bell scored a goal early in the fourth quarter to cut the Sharks' deficit to one, but it would not be enough to fuel a comeback. Junior goalkeeper Rachel Vellis made seven saves after facing nine shots against the Broncs.  
 
NOTES ON THE SHARKS
The Long Island University Sharks closed out the regular season with a 7-9 overall record and a 4-2 mark in the NEC. Bell leads the team with nine goals and two assists for a total of 20 points this season. She scored one game-winning goal, which came in double overtime against Sacred Heart, and helped the Sharks clinch a spot in the NEC tournament. Freshman forward Kaitlyn Olton leads the team with three game winning goals, and has scored a total of six in the regular season. Olton helped lead the Sharks to a come-from-behind victory against Towson by netting her first career hat trick in the 3-2 win. Freshman defender Jonna Klein-Holte chipped in a team-high five assists and scored a goal for a total of seven points. Klein-Holte's first career goal was one of the season-high four goals scored against the Merrimack College Warriors. Senior midfielder Taylor Brodsky has four assists and one goal on the season for a total of six points. Sophomore midfielder Emma Braeckmans also has six points behind two goals and two assists. Freshman midfielder Alexis Ruiz scored two goals and added one assist. Her first career goal came in a 2-1 win over Lehigh. Freshman forward Felicia King scored her first career goal against NEC member Bryant to lead the Sharks in a 1-0 win over the Bulldogs. In net, Vellis started every game and made 94 saves to go along with a .748 save percentage. She also posted two shutouts this season, and was named NEC Goalkeeper of the Week twice this season. Olton was named NEC Player of the Week once and Rookie of the Week twice. King also earned NEC Rookie of the Week accolades once this season.  
 
Bell's nine goals is the third most in the conference. Offensively, the Sharks are second in the NEC in goals off a corner with eight. Vellis ranks third in the conference in goals against average, fourth in the conference in saves, and fifth in save percentage. Klein-Holte, sophomore defenders Michaela Zabicki and Brianna Petruccelli, and freshman defender Saarah Olton, all anchor a defensive line that has helped keep opponents to 34 goals allowed for an average of 2.12 goals per game, which ranks third in the conference.
 
SCOUTING THE BRONCS
The Rider University Broncs completed the regular season with a 12-6 overall record and 5-1 record in the NEC.  The Broncs' offense has scored 44 goals this season, which ranks second in the conference. The Broncs have also scored seven goals off penalty corners, which is good for third in the NEC, right behind the Sharks. Sophomore forward Julia Divorra leads the team with 15 goals. She's also added six assists for a team-best 36 points this season. Sophomore forward Carly Brosious is right behind Divorra with 12 goals, and also chipped in a team-high nine assists for 33 points. Divorra and Brosious rank first and second in the conference in goals. Sophomore midfielder Tess van Ommeren has scored five goals and added five assists for 15 points. Junior goalkeeper Lena Vandam has played every minute in goal for the Broncs this season. She has made 74 saves and has a .755 save percentage. Vandam ranks fifth in the conference in saves, and fourth in save percentage.