<p><strong>BROOKLYN, N.Y.—</strong> The LIU Brooklyn field hockey team hits the second half of its eight-game road stretch to start the season with matchups against Georgetown and Towson this weekend. The Blackbirds square off against the Hoyas on Friday, September 7 before ending the weekend against the Tigers on Sunday, September 9. </p> <p><strong>LAST TIME OUT </strong></p> <p>The Blackbirds trekked down to North Carolina last weekend for two games against Appalachian State and Davidson. LIU dropped a 6-3 decision to the Mountaineers on Friday night as freshman Eva van Wakeren tallied her first career multi-goal game and junior Madi Cook recorded her first goal of the season. Redshirt-sophomore Casey Carrigan and junior Gillian Vallaster tallied assists in the game. LIU was unable to halt a second half run by the Wildcats on Sunday, falling 5-2. Cook and van Wakeren both scored in the second half for LIU. </p> <p>With her three-goal weekend, van Wakeren garnered MAAC Rookie of the Week honors and ranks among the league leaders in points with seven. Molly Jannell recorded 17 saves on the weekend and paces MAAC goalkeepers with 8.75 saves per game.<br /> <br /> <strong>SCOUTING THE HOYAS</strong></p> <p>Georgetown enters the weekend 4-0, starting the 2018 campaign with three shutout victories. Last weekend the Hoyas shutout Sacred Heart, 2-0 and bested Saint Francis U, 4-2 to open play at Cooper Field. Cami Osborne with three goals and Sydney Stephenson with a pair of goals pace the Georgetown offense thus far. Ali Cronin is the team's main distributor with three assists on the year. Goalkeeper Ciara Weets ranks third in the nation both goals against average at .50 and save percentage .920%. The Blackbirds are 0-1 against the Hoyas after meeting last season at Cooper Field.</p> <p><strong>SCOUTING THE TIGERS</strong></p> <p>The 0-4 Tigers are coming off a 6-0 loss at Lock Haven and a 3-2 overtime defeat at home to Sacred Heart last weekend. Katie McNeel leads the Tiger offense with two goals on the year. LIU look for its first win against the Tigers after meeting in each of the last two season.</p> <p><br /> <strong>UP NEXT </strong></p> <p>The Blackbirds have one last weekend on the road before opening up at LIU Field for their home opener. LIU will play at Holy Cross on Friday, September 14 and Providence College on Sunday, September 24. </p>