PISCATAWAY, N.J.- Alyssa Mallery and Paige Sherlock both scored a hat trick as the Long Island University women's lacrosse team fell to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 15-9 in the season opener. Brianna Feldman, Amanda Masullo and Rachel Masullo also scored for the Sharks. 
 
The Scarlet Knights had the first opportunity to test Hailey Duchnowski who came up with two early saves. The Sharks brought the ball down the field and Sherlock had the first look coming on a free position attempt. Mallery had a great look on net as the Sharks had a man-up advantage, but the Rutgers goalkeeper made the save.
 
Just under eight minutes into the opening half, Sherlock converted her second free position attempt of the day to get Sharks to get on the board.
 
The Scarlet Knights quickly answered to tie the game at one all. Rutgers would take the lead on a free position attempt of their own. Nearly four minutes passed before the Blue and Gold tied the game up at two all as Feldman scored her first goal of the season on a free position attempt.
 
Amanda Masullo ended a six goal Scarlet Knights run with her first goal of the season to switch the momentum heading into halftime.
 
The Sharks came out of the halftime break continuing where they left off at the end of the first as Mallery scored her first goal of 2020 to cut the deficit to four. Mallery scored her second goal three minutes later as the Sharks started a three-goal run.
 
Rachel Masullo kept the run going as she scored a beautiful over the shoulder goal to pull the Sharks within two with 24 minutes remaining.
 
The Scarlet Knights responded with two goals of their own. After six minutes of scoreless play, Mallery completed the hat trick, once again pulling the Sharks within three. Rutgers had an answer with two more goals. Sherlock scored twice more for LIU, both goals coming within 37 seconds of each other, and completing her first hat trick of the season. Rutgers closed out the day scoring three unanswered goals.
 
The Sharks played a competitive game throughout all 60 minutes and did not give in. The Sharks finished the day with 18 shots on goal, and edged out the Scarlet Knights in draw controls, 14-12. Rachel Masullo won a team-best seven, while Mallery won four and Amanda Masullo won three.
 
In her season debut, Duchnowski made 11 saves between the pipes for the Sharks.
 
The Sharks open up the home slate with a Wednesday afternoon game against Manhattan. Opening draw at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium is set for 2:00 p.m.