EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — The LIU women's hockey team is headed to its first-ever NCAA Tournament!

The Sharks backed up their New England Women's Hockey Association regular-season title with a 2-0 win against second-seeded Saint Anselm in the conference title game on Saturday night at Northwell Health Ice Center.

LIU earns the conference's first-ever automatic bid and will learn its assignment during a noon NCAA selection show on Sunday, which will be televised by ESPNEWS.

Junior center Sarah Rourke, an alternate captain, scored the game's decisive goal. Teammate Carrigan Umpherville had shoveled the puck toward the net late in the first period. The shot inadvertently deflected off Rourke's skate by the left post, then ricocheted off Saint Anselm winger Brooklyn Pancoast before crossing the goal line.

Carrigan Umpherville then secured the victory with a 4-on-4 goal with 7 minutes, 36 seconds remaining.

NEWHA Goaltender of the Year Tindra Holm, also a National Goalie of the Year semifinalist, produced an 18-save shutout.

Her stellar play included a point-blank stop on Saint Anselm's Natalie Tulchinsky eight minutes into the game, before Rourke had staked the Sharks to the decisive lead.

Holm was named tournament MVP. She was joined by Paula Bergström, Mikayla Lantto and Umpherville on the all-tournament team.

LIU will enter the NCAA Tournament with the program's first-ever 20-win season already accomplished.