BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – Sacred Heart University's Matt Kling connected on a 21-yard field goal as time expired and the Long Island University football team (1-2) fell to Sacred Heart (2-1), 24-21, before a homecoming crowd on Saturday afternoon at Shark Stadium.

Redshirt junior quarterback Luca Stanzani was one of the bright spots for LIU on Saturday as the reigning NEC Offensive Player of the Week rushed for 87 yards and touchdown. Stanzani opened the scoring with a 75-yard touchdown run on the game's first play from scrimmage, putting the Sharks up 7-0 only 12 seconds into the game.

Another bright spot for LIU was junior running back O'Shawn Ross, Jr., who picked up 82 yards and scored a touchdown. Ross, Jr. scored on a one-yard plunge with 56 seconds remaining in the second quarter to give LIU a 14-7 lead at intermission.

Freshman defensive back Jaylin Lewis scored LIU's third touchdown, recovering a fumbled punt in the end zone in the third quarter for his first collegiate score.

Defensively, sophomore defensive back Jalen Bell led the Sharks with 11 tackles (2 solo, 9 assisted), including one tackle for loss.
Sophomore defensive tackle Scoop Gardner, Jr. and freshman defensive lineman Naquan Johnson followed Bell with eight tackles each.
Johnson also recorded two sacks for the Sharks while redshirt freshman defensive lineman Rodney Mills, a Brookville, New York native, added one quarterback take down.

Senior linebacker Rafael Fasolino, who earned the NEC's top weekly defensive honor for the first time last week, played his third consecutive strong game for the Sharks defense. Fasolino recorded seven tackles (5 solo, 2assisted), including two tackles for loss.

The Sharks will be in action again next Saturday when they travel to Kingston, Rhode Island to take on the University of Rhode Island which is currently ranked No. 5 in the AFCS FCS Coaches Poll and No. 6 in the Stats Perform FCS Poll.   

Opening kickoff at Meade Stadium is slated for 6 p.m. Television coverage will be available digitally on Flo Sports and the game can be heard on the LIU Sharks Audio Network via the Varsity Network App beginning at 5:30 p.m.