BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The LIU field hockey team closed out the regular season in style Thursday afternoon at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium. Despite the rainy weather, moods were bright as the Sharks beat Bryant, 2-0, to clinch their spot in the Northeast Conference championship match.
 
The Sharks finish the regular conference season with a 4-1 record, and will be the No. 2 seed. LIU will travel to take on top seed Rider for the championship on April 22.
 
LIU got on the board Thursday near the end of the first period, when junior Emma Braeckmans scored on a penalty corner. Michaela Zabicki got the assist as she took the corner that led to the goal.
 
The rest of the game, neither team would get much offense going. The Sharks had six shots to Bryant's four. The Bulldogs would pull their goalie in the fourth quarter in an attempt to negate LIU's 1-0 lead, but the mov backfired, as the Sharks scored on a penalty corner in the 56th minute. Zabicki got credited with the assist once again, as freshman Sol Espona scored to make it 2-0 LIU.
 
Up next for LIU is the NEC Championship game, which will take place at Rider, Thursday, April 22 at 4 p.m.