Louisville, Ky. | The top-seeded and second-ranked LIU Post field hockey team came up short Sunday in a 4-1 loss to No. 3 Shippensburg University in the 2017 NCAA Division II National Championship at the University of Louisville's Trager Stadium.
 
The Pioneers had a strong effort in the first half despite being outshot 5-1, but found themselves trailing 1-0 at the break.
 
The Raiders continued to pressure the LIU Post defense collecting tallies in the 46th, 58th and 62nd minute of the second half with the latter two coming after the Pioneers pulled the goalie in exchange for an extra field player.
 
The green and gold, who tallied seven shots after the intermission, finally broke through in the 64th minute after freshman forward Sammy Bell picked up a loose ball on the backline and sent the ball inside the far left post.
 
The Pioneers were able to get off two more shots in the 68th minute, but it wasn't enough as Shippensburg walked away with the 4-1 win.
 
Between the pipes, freshman goalkeeper Rachel Vellis made three saves on five shots on goal in 64:24 of work for the green and gold. Ally Mooney stopped six shots in cage for Shippensburg.
 
"We are very pleased with the freshmen class that we brought in this year—excited that all three of them came in and were able to start right away for us, so we definitely do have a bright future ahead of us," Head Coach Raenee Savin stated. "Watch out Division II because we're headed back here again."

This concludes the 2017 season for the Pioneers' field hockey team. For more information on LIU Post field hockey, please continue to visit LIUPostPioneers.com.