BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- The LIU Brooklyn women's soccer team fell to Northeast Conference foe Sacred Heart, 2-1, on the Blackbirds' Senior Day Sunday at LIU Field.

The Blackbirds (2-7-3, 0-2-1) had momentum at the opening whistle, in what would eventually become their most physical game of the season. But in the later part of the first half, the Pioneers were able to take control with a goal in the 34th minute, on a pass from Taylor Casale to Maranda Gibbons.

The Pioneers notched the game-winning goal early in the second half on a header by Alex Mesropyan, her third tally of the year, on a nice combination off of a corner kick. With the score 2-0 in favor of the visitors, the pace of play picked up for the Blackbirds.

Then just into the final third of the game, a tick past the 60th minute, the Blackbirds' Brittany Fazin scored her first goal of her two-year career on a deflection from the goalie following an Emily Poole free kick from 40 yards out. Fazin and senior Maddie Shockley had two shots each for LIU in the game.

Starting keeper Nicole Sambuco earned the win with two saves in the first half and the 1-0 lead. In the second half, Sacred Heart switched goalkeepers and Angela DiFazio played the second period, and she had two saves as well. The Pioneers move to 2-10 on the season and 1-2 in NEC play.

LIU senior goalkeeper Aline Allmann had a career-best 17 saves in the contest, with two of them going off of her fingertips before going out of the goal area.

Before the game, the Blackbirds' eight seniors: Agape Alexander, Allmann, Marian Awad,Deanna Ellison, Summer Sofer, Shockley, Josie Watson and Leslie Wrightington were honored in a ceremony prior to kickoff.

Next up, the Blackbirds will host their third consecutive conference opponent as their closest rival, Wagner, comes over the Verrazzano Bridge, next Saturday, October 6 for a 1 p.m. start. The match will also serve as Alumni day for the team.