BROOKVILLE, N.Y. — Head coach Ron Cooper knew the opening portion of the LIU football schedule would prove challenging, but also will serve to ready the Sharks for Northeast Conference play.

So LIU had plenty of reasons to be satisfied despite a 38-21 loss to fifth-ranked Villanova in the home opener on Saturday at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium.

Victor Nelson Jr. produced three interceptions, upping his season total to four through two games, and the Derek Green-led offense came to life in the second half as the quarterback completed 31 of 45 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns.

"I surprised myself to say the least," said Nelson, whose first interception came at the LIU 3 and kept the game scoreless in the first quarter. "I came into the game just saying, 'Hey, I've got to get one. I need to get one.'"

Trailing 17-0, LIU advanced 75 yards for a touchdown with a two-minute drive just before halftime for its first score of the season. The drive was capped by a Green to Zach Rhodes 5-yard touchdown pass.

"From that point on I think we gained a lot of confidence moving the ball down the field," Green said. "… The second half looked really good. I think there was maybe one drive where we didn't move the ball all the way down the field."

Davon Wells caught a 22-yard TD pass from Green and Shemar Paul had a four-yard TD run, both in the fourth quarter.

The Sharks (0-2) are in the midst of tough season-opening stretch. Saturday's game against Villanova, the fifth-ranked team in the FCS, is sandwiched between road games against a pair of FBS opponents — Toledo on Sept. 1 and Kent State next Saturday.

"I think the first game our defense showed a lot," Green said. "And that gave us a lot of confidence as a whole, as a team. This game the offense, we picked it up a notch definitely. The confidence should be growing every week. It's a tough way to start the season, but I think it's going to get us ready for conference play. That's what's most important to us."

Said Cooper: "The guys kept fighting. [Villanova] is the fifth-ranked team in the nation at our level. Last year they lost in the semifinals of the national championship. I just know we're not that far away.

"We've got to continue to get better. We've got to not shoot ourselves in the foot — and develop a little more depth, especially on defense, so when it gets later in the game, we've got more guys in the game, so we're not tired and getting pushed around.

"I was glad to see our offense moved the ball. They had times where they stalled, but they didn't quit. The offensive line was blocking pretty well. … We can continue to build on that."