STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The LIU field hockey team is advancing to the Northeast Conference championship game for the second straight year, after beating #2 seed Wagner Friday afternoon, 2-0. The #3 seeded Sharks beat the Seahawks for the second time this season, and will play for a championship Sunday.
 
LIU will take on top-seeded Fairfield in the finals. The Stags beat Rider 2-1 in the first semifinal, and are 7-0 in NEC action this season.
 
"We played a great game all around," head coach Raenee Savin said after the win. "We definitely stuck to the game plan, and that's what got us the victory today."
 
SHARK BITES

• The Sharks got on the board right before the halftime break on a penalty corner. Samantha Olton took the corner, and passed it to Sol Espona. Espona crossed it to a waiting Saarah Olton, who fired a shot. In the scrum in front of the net, senior Meilin Liotard was there, and deflected it in, giving the Sharks a 1-0 lead with 20 seconds left to play before the break.
• LIU added another insurance goal in the fourth period. Senior Sammy Bell dribbled into the shooting circle, and as she was falling, fired the ball diagonally across the circle. The shot went in, finding the back right of the net, and LIU had a 2-0 lead.
• The Sharks finished without letting Wagner score, taking the 2-0 win to advance to the championship game. Senior keeper Rachel Vellis made one save to earn the shutout win.
• LIU will take on Fairfield Sunday at 12 p.m.