SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The LIU Brooklyn women's lacrosse team fell in its Northeast Conference opener, dropping a 17-9 decision on the road against Bryant. Sierra O'Connor, Tori Shinkowitz and Jillian May each had two goals for LIU in the loss.

The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead, scoring two goals in the first three minutes of play. Bryant would add one more in a man up situation five minutes in, to take the early 3-0 lead. Senior Tori Shinkowitz would score LIU's first goal of the game six minutes into action, with an unassisted goal. Four minutes later, senior Mary McQueen also scored an unassisted goal. And with just over 19 minutes left to play, senior Jillian May would score a goal for LIU that tied the game up, 3-3.

Over the next six minutes, however, Bryant would score five unanswered goals to widen the lead back up, 8-3. Junior Sierra O'Connor would score her first game of the contest with 12 minutes left in the first half, and Shinkowtiz added another 90 seconds later to cut the gap back down, 8-5. But the Bulldogs would score six goals in the final ten minutes of play, taking a 14-5 lead into the halftime break.

Bryant would add four more goals to the tally before LIU would score again. O'Connor would net a goal off a pass from freshman Bianca Santucci, and then assisted May four minutes later when she would score, making it 18-7. The home team would add a final goal with 35 seconds left on the clock, taking the first NEC game of the season, 19-7.

Up next, the Blackbirds head to New Britain, Conn., to take on CCSU, Sunday, April 9 at 1 p.m.