FAIRFIELD, CONN. – In just its second season as a varsity program, the LIU Brooklyn field hockey team clinched a spot in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Friday night, with their 1-0 win over MAAC opponent Sacred Heart. With the win, the Blackbirds finish conference play with a 4-2 record, and will wait to learn their tournament seed until the rest of the league wraps up play Sunday.

Early on, Sacred Heart put pressure on the Blackbirds, registering eight shots and four penalty corners in the first 11 minutes. Sophomore keeper Molly Jannell made five of her 13 saves in that span to keep the game scoreless. LIU would manage to get some offense going later in the half, and were able to capitalize on opportunities as the clock expired.

LIU's best chance came in the 32^nd minute, when the Blackbirds were awarded a penalty stroke. Sophomore Brooke McGinley would convert on the opportunity, scoring to put LIU on the board, 1-0.

In the second half, a frustrated Pioneer squad would get called for two early yellow cards, allowing LIU to play two men up for five minutes. Eva Scholten and Madi Cook both got shots off in that time, but SHU's keeper was able to make key saves to keep it 1-0.

At the end of the second half, the Pioneers pulled their goalie to give them a man up on offense. The home team would get a penalty corner as the clock expired, giving them one final chance to even the score. But Sacred Heart's last shot went wide, and LIU clinched the win and a spot in the postseason.

Eva Scholten, Brooke McGinley, Madi Cook, Jenna Chrabolowski, Eveline Gielisse and Marisa Batista all had shots in the game for LIU, while sophomore Molly Jannell made 13 saves in the net.

Up next, the Blackbirds wrap up the regular season, hosting Davidson on LIU Field, Sunday, October 29 at 11 a.m.