EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — Following a road victory over St. Lawrence and a five-goal exhibition performance against USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, the LIU men's hockey team heads to Western Michigan for another opportunity to build on its history of wins against nationally ranked opponents.

The Sharks showcased their offensive depth in Friday's 5-1 exhibition victory at Northwell Health Ice Center, with five different players scoring. Sixten Jennersjö led LIU with a goal and two assists as the Sharks outshot the NTDP 35-17, converted twice on the power play and killed all three opposing power-play opportunities.

That performance followed a 7-6 road win over St. Lawrence on Oct. 20. Isaac Lambert delivered the game-winning power-play goal with 3:35 remaining, while Luca Leighton scored twice and Jennersjö contributed four assists.

Through seven NCAA games, Jennersjö leads the Sharks with nine points on two goals and seven assists. Leighton has a team-high three goals and joins Dylan Kinch, Brennan Nelson and Lambert with five points apiece. In goal, Lukas Renaud carries a .914 save percentage and a 3.00 goals-against average.

Since beginning NCAA Division I competition in 2020-21, LIU has earned victories over three nationally ranked opponents. The Sharks secured their first ranked win by defeating No. 12 Ohio State, 3-2, on Nov. 25, 2022, before topping No. 20 Alaska Fairbanks, 3-1, on Feb. 11, 2023. LIU then earned its first ranked road victory with a 5-2 win at No. 17 Notre Dame on Oct. 26, 2024.

The Sharks added another milestone last season, defeating five-time national champion Minnesota, 6-2, on the road on Nov. 14, 2025. The Golden Gophers were receiving votes in the national coaches' poll at the time.

"Playing Western Michigan will be a great test for our group," head coach Brendon Riley said. "We talk a lot about wanting to be great at what we do and there is no better way to measure yourself and gauge where you are at than playing against the best teams in the country."

LIU's next test comes Thursday, Oct. 29, and Friday, Oct. 30, at Lawson Ice Arena in Kalamazoo, Mich. Both games begin at 7 p.m.

Western Michigan enters the series at 4-1 and ranks No. 5 in the USA Hockey poll and No. 6 in the USCHO poll released Oct. 26. The 2025 national champions have remained in the national top 10 since November 2024.

"Western Michigan has proven to be one of the top programs year in, year out so we are going to need our absolute best against them," Riley said.

Riley also emphasized that the atmosphere at Lawson will give the Sharks an opportunity to learn more about their group and its ability to respond against elite competition.

Following the series, LIU returns to Northwell Health Ice Center to host Robert Morris on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m.