LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. — The LIU field hockey team entered the final day of the regular season still in contention for a berth in the four-team NEC playoffs.

However, before taking the field on Friday night, the Sharks were eliminated by other results earlier in the day. LIU then closed its season with a 2-1 loss to host Rider.

Emilce Paez scored the Sharks' lone goal. The first-quarter score had staked LIU to a 1-0 lead.

Rider answered with a pair of goals, scored 1 minute, 45 seconds apart, in the second quarter.

The Sharks completed Mike Pallister's first season at the helm 4-11 overall and 2-5 in the NEC — albeit with a pair of 2-1 double-overtime losses in October in conference play.