EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — Sellout crowd. SportsNet New York television audience. And a ranked opponent on Long Island to open the season.

The LIU men's hockey team, which captured the program's first-ever victory against a ranked opponent a season ago, narrowly fell to No. 16 Penn State, 3-2, on Saturday night before an announced crowd of 1,862 at Northwell Health Ice Center.

Penn State's Dylan Lugris scored the game-winner with 5 minutes, 11 seconds remaining in regulation and the Sharks only two seconds from killing a five-minute major penalty.

LIU had received goals from Preston Brodziak and Riley Wallack 129 seconds apart in the second period to take a 2-1 lead.

However, the Nittany Lions evened the score heading into the second intermission on a goal with 28.6 seconds remaining in the period.

The Sharks had defeated another Big Ten member, then-No. 12 Ohio State, last season for the program's first-ever victory against a ranked opponent.

LIU quickly turns around and faces Holy Cross on Sunday at 7 p.m. at Hart Center Rink in Worcester, Mass.