BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – Cleveland State (6-7, 4-3) wrapped up the regular season with a 12-8 loss at LIU (10-3, 5-2) on Saturday afternoon.

The Vikings will be the third seed in the NEC Tournament, rematching with second seed LIU in the semifinals at Robert Morris on Thursday, May 30 at 8 p.m.

Cleveland State used goals by Xander Johnson and Will Adair to claim a 2-0 lead with 11:28 remaining in the opening quarter. LIU responded back with three consecutive goals for its lead of the day with 5:35 to go in the quarter.

Johnson netted his second goal of the frame with 4:11 showing as the game moved to the second quarter, tied at 3-3.

The Sharks began the second with three unanswered goals to claim a 6-3 advantage with 8:19 remaining in the first half. An unassisted goal by Griffin Burkey at the 2:53 mark stopped the run, and a Maddox Johnson goal with 45 ticks left brought the Vikings to within one. However, LIU notched a goal with six seconds to take a 7-5 advantage into the break.

Adam Van Voorhis scored five minutes into the third, and Ethan Erker scored at the 9:05 mark to even the game at 7-7. The Sharks went back in front 8-7 with 3:28 showing and made it 9-7 with eight seconds to go in the quarter.

LIU netted the first goal of the fourth before Johnson completed the hat-trick on the man-up with 10:05 left in regulation. The Sharks claimed the final two goals to take the finale 12-8.

Johnson led the attacked with four points on three goals and an assist. Van Voorhis finished with multiple assists.

Drew Graves forced three turnovers and picked up three ground balls. Robbie Stewart went 5-of-8 in the faceoff circle. Justin Dalum made ten saves in the cage.