BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – LIU men's lacrosse opened its Northeast Conference slate against Wagner on Saturday, taking down the Seahawks, 12-7. With the win, the Sharks move to 1-0 in NEC play and 4-4 overall. 
 
SHARK BITES

• After trading saves in the first seven minutes, LIU struck first when Thomas von Bargen scored at the 8:08 mark off an assist from Blake Behlen to have an early 1-0 lead. Sean Boll followed with a goal of his own, taking a 2-0 lead.
• Wagner answered, but Behlen responded with his first goal of the game, making it 3-1, LIU, at the end of the first. 
• Richie LaCalandra started the second period hot with two goals in a minute span, swelling the advantage to four goals at 5-1. Jake Gillis capped the 4-0 Sharks run with a goal of his own, giving LIU a 6-1 lead midway through the second. 
• After the Seahawks trimmed the deficit to 6-3, the Sharks scored three straight, two more from LaCalandra, to take command heading into halftime, leading 9-4.
• The third period saw a combined three goals from both sides. Jake Gillis and Will Snelders scored their first goals of the afternoon to extend the lead to 11-5. 
• Wagner scored two in the beginning stages of the fourth, but Marcin Maleski put the final goal in the back of the net with 4:13 remaining, bringing the final to 12-7. 
• Ryan Blume caused two turnovers to lead the Shark defense, and Will Mark finished with 10 saves on the day, collecting the win in cage.
• LaCalandra finished with four goals, a season high, and two assists. Behlen tied his season high with three assists to go with his two goals. 
• As a team, the Sharks were 22-22 on clears and had the advtange in faceoffs won, 13-9. 

 
Up next, LIU will host Merrimack College on Saturday, March 26 at 12:00 p.m.