STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – In the newly-formed battle for New York supremacy, the Long Island University football team was unable to get past the Seahawks of Wagner College, falling by a 24-14 final at Hameline Field on Saturday, Sept. 28.
 
After an opening-drive touchdown by the Seahawks, the Sharks' offense came to life on the team's second drive. Junior Clay Beathard notched two 20-yard completions on the series which netted 80 yards over 14 plays, but for the second-consecutive week redshirt-freshman Briant DeFelice had his field goal attempt blocked. The passing game continued to have success early in the contest as Beathard found senior Jake Bofshever for a 38-yard touchdown strike early in the second quarter for his first passing touchdown of the season, tying the score at 7-7.
 
The Seahawks responded in a big way with 17-unanswered points to close the half, including a 48-yard field goal in the final seconds to take a 24-7 advantage into the locker room.
 
The momentum shifted to begin the second half after Wagner took the opening kick of the half and drove 52 yards in 12 plays. After the drive stalled, the Seahawks lined up for a 41-yard field goal attempt but junior Jerome Brooks III broke through the line and blocked the kick which bounced into the waiting arms of graduate student Grant Ibeh who went 67-yards for the score, cutting the deficit to just 10 points at 24-14.
 
LIU had an opportunity to cut into the deficit even more on its next offensive drive when sophomore Tosin Oyekanmi had a step on his defender but could not haul in what would have been a 65-yard touchdown strike and the 10-point difference continued into the final quarter.
 
The offense was unable to continue the momentum during the second half, as the two sides went scoreless over the final 21:21 as Wagner held on for the 24-14 victory, its first win of the season.
 
Beathard finished with a season-high 15 completions on 26 attempts, tallying 183 yards with one touchdown. Bofshever led the Sharks with six catches for 89 yards and one touchdown, while Oyekanmi added three receptions for 46 yards. On the ground, redshirt-senior Tim Marinan garnered 27 rushing yards on 11 attempts.
 
Defensively, Brooks III led LIU for the second-straight week, compiling 10.5 tackles and 0.5 tackle for loss. Senior Ricco Aaron, Jr. added six tackles and one sack, while junior Tavon Joseph and senior Ramshar Clarke added one sack apiece.
 
The Sharks will continue its three-game stretch of road contests on Saturday, Oct. 5 when they travel to Duquesne University for a Northeast Conference matchup beginning at 1:00 p.m.