NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The LIU women's lacrosse team was outscored in the second half, including three goals in the final three minutes, but the Sharks withstood the Merrimack rally to take the win, 12-11. With the win, LIU moves to 8-2 overall, 6-2 in the Northeast Conference.
 
Senior Rachel Masullo got the Sharks started on the right foot, winning the first draw control of the game, and drawing a foul just 40 seconds later to get the draw control. She scored, and LIU led, 1-0 in the first 52 seconds.
 
Merrimack would score two quick goals, but then the Sharks went on a spree, scoring six straight goals. Masullo found Sara Stephens for a goal, and then scored an unassisted goal of her own. Stephen would then score again, off a pass from Amanda Masullo, to make it 4-2. Elise Person would score back-to-back goals, and Jamie Alvino added a goal with five minutes left in the first half, and the Sharks led, 7-3 at the break.
 
Paige Sherlock and Francesca Vasile-Cozzo would score early in the second half, but Merrimack started to make up some ground. The Warriors scored four unanswered goals too cut the lead to 9-8, before LIU restored the balance.
 
Freshman Jen Gaffney would score off a pass from Person, and the Stephens added back-to-back goals to give LIU the 12-8 lead.
 
Merrimack continued to put the pressure on, and would rally to score three straight goals in the final four minutes, but LIU would hold on to the ball in the final seconds, securing the 12-11 win.
 
Up next, the Sharks head to Loretto, Pa. to take on Saint Francis U., Saturday, April 17.