BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's lacrosse team has two games left in the regular season, and with their sights still set on the post-season, face a tough final weekend of play. The Blackbirds will be hitting the road to take on the top two teams int he Northeast Conference, needing at least a win to qualify for the the NEC tournament.
LIU will take on second-place Wagner, Friday, April 26 at 1 p.m. on Staten Island, before heading south to face off against league-leader Mount St. Mary's, Sunday, April 28 at 1 p.m.
POSTSEASON PICTURE
The Blackbirds are still in the hunt for their first-ever bid to the NEC Tournament, but would need help to get there. Currently, LIU is tied for third in the NEC standings, with a 3-2 record, along with Robert Morris and Bryant. Mount is the only team to have clinched a spot in the postseason with their perfect 5-0 league record, while Wagner is in second place, with a 4-1 NEC record. Bryant and Robert Morris will face off this weekend, meaning at least one of those schools will have an additional loss, but with both of those teams holding the tiebreaker over LIU, the Blackbirds need at least one win and a second loss for one of those two teams to make it in.
LAST TIME OUT
In their last weekend at home, LIU split with the two PA teams. The Blackbirds beat Saint Francis U., 12-10 Thursday, but then were outplayed by RMU Saturday, falling to the Colonials, 15-8.
SCOUTING THE SEAHAWKS
Wagner is coming off of two big road wins, having beaten Bryant (15-8) and CCSU (17-6) on the road last weekend. Mount gave Wagner it's only NEC loss of the season, having beaten the the Seahawks in Maryland, 11-9.
Wagner is led by two sophomore middies on offense: Madeline Seims and current NEC Player of the Week, Erin Kerstetter. Seims is the team's leading point scorer, with 44 goals on the season, and one assists. Kerstetter is behind her, with 26 goals and 16 assists. But the Seahawks have six other point scorers with at least 10 goals, including three other players with at least 20 goals.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
Mount St. Mary's will look to finish the regular season undefeated, as they are 5-0 heading into this weekend at home, and will host Sacred Heart Friday before taking on LIU Sunday. It'd be the first regular season title for the Mountaineers since 2007.
Mount has won 10 straight games, including a 19-8 win over Bryant this weekend, and are 13-2 overall this season.
UP NEXT
The 2019 NEC Tournament will take place May 2 through 4 on the campus of the highest seed.