WASHINGTON, PA. – Ethan Zirh was once again a force in net on Sunday as the Sharks picked up their first win of the season against Washington & Jefferson in the W&J invitational.
 
In the first match of the day, LIU fell to Gannon 16-8. Zirh picked up ten saves while goals were scored by Sam Odenkirk, Riyad Shehadeh, Josep Jodra Muñoz, Karl Lovett, and Charlie Downey.
 
The afternoon match was when the Sharks were really able to show their talents against the host school.
 
Ben LeClair opened up the scoring, but soon LIU trailed 2-1 early.  That's when the team woke up and rattled off five unanswered goals. Four of those goals were scored by St. Francis transfers Shehadeh and Jodra Muñoz and Tony Franco added his first career collegiate goal.
 
When Washington & Jefferson tried to fight back, the Sharks would just keep adding on goals, thwarting any chance of a comeback. Downey, Lovett, and Odenkirk joined in on the fun adding four goals between the three of them.
 
"We were actually able to carry momentum of the lead throughout the entire game," head coach Gabby Juarez said. "I'm happy with the win, we were to execute and solidify the end result that we wanted. Everybody played today and everybody was able to contribute to the victory."
 
The story of the match was Ethan Zirh's performance in goal. Throughout the three previous games the Sydney, Australia native played well, recording a combined 38 saves. On Sunday afternoon he stepped up his game. Washington & Jefferson peppered the goal with 42 shots, but the graduate student made a season-high 18 saves and propelled LIU to victory.

"The energy was great for the game this afternoon and it definitely showed in the pool from the first quarter all the way through the game," Zirh said. "I'm super happy with the boys to get a win in the last game. Hopefully we'll carry the momentum heading into next week.
 
The Sharks play again on Friday. They will take on California Baptist at 2 p.m. and Wagner at 8 p.m. in Princeton, N.J.