NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — The LIU men's soccer team's eight-match unbeaten streak came to an end on Thursday night.

Despite a slew of second-half chances, the Sharks fell to host Merrimack, 1-0, at rainy Martone-Mejail Field to suffer their first NEC defeat.

LIU (9-3-1, 3-1-1 NEC) was held scoreless for the first time this season.

Striker Emil Jaaskelainen had an eight-match goal-scoring streak snapped. The Sharks had been 7-0-1 during that stretch.

Among LIU's chances during the second half on Thursday night, Merrimack goalkeeper Alvaro Rodriguez made a point-blank save on Henry Haferkorn, Jaaskelainen hit the left post, and Papa Sow narrowly missed with a strike outside that same post.

The lone goal came in the fifth minute.

LIU returns home to face Fairleigh Dickinson in an important match on Sunday at 1 p.m. at LIU Soccer Park. The Knights, who had their match postponed Thursday due to rain, entered the day with an identical 3-0-1 NEC record to the Sharks.