BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The LIU field hockey team had its first win of the season at home Thursday afternoon, beating Fairfield in dramatic fashion. The game had to be decided in a shootout, where Emilce Paez would score the game-winner, and senior keeper Rachel Vellis made two saves to give the Sharks the victory.
 
Vellis made five saves in the game, including two in overtime, and one on a penalty stroke, to help clinch the win for the Sharks.
 
LIU opened scoring early in the contest, when freshman Sol Espona scored a goal on a steal and a breakaway. It was her first collegiate goal, and put the Sharks up, 1-0.
 
The Stags evened scoring in the third, scoring on a corner. Neither team would score in the fourth, and the game went to OT.
 
The Sharks stayed aggressive in the overtime period, getting five penalty corners and four shots off, but the game would end with 80 minutes of field hockey played, and no winner, forcing the two teams to go to a shootout.   
 
LIU took a 2-1 lead in the shootout when Vellis made a huge stop against Fairfield. The Sharks would miss one, and then a penalty stroke was called when Vellis fouled the next player. The senior made a huge save on the stroke to keep LIU's hopes alive with a 3-2 advantage. The win was clinched on the next shot, when Paez made the goal, and the Sharks stormed the field, celebrating the 2-1 win.
 
With the victory, LIU moves to 1-1 in Northeast Conference play. Up next, the Sharks head to Staten Island to take on Wagner, Thursday, April 1.