BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Mar. 21, 2015) - On Saturday, the No. 5/5 LIU Post men's lacrosse team wrapped up a three-game homestand with an 18-6 rout of East Coast Conference opponent Chestnut Hill at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium.

The Pioneers (7-1, 4-0 ECC) wasted no time getting to work offensively, firing home six unanswered goals to open the contest. Senior attackman Chris Caiazza (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) and junior midfielder Anthony Berardis (Mahopac, N.Y.) scored only eight seconds apart to get things going for the green and gold. Caiazza later tacked on two more tallies in a 50-second span.

Eventually leading 6-1 after one quarter of play, LIU Post kept up the intensity in the second quarter. The Pioneers recorded three consecutive man-up goals, two of which were by Berardis, to spark another six-goal spurt. Junior attackman Matt Bellando (Miami, Fla.) capped the scoring in the half with an even-strength tally at the 24-second mark.

That sent the green and gold into the break with a commanding 12-1 advantage. LIU Post won 10-of-14 faceoffs and converted on 3-of-3 extra-man opportunities in the opening 30 minutes.

The offensive explosion by the Pioneers in the first half proved to be too much for the Griffins (2-5, 0-3 ECC). Chestnut Hill looked to rally late in the third quarter, but never closed the gap to fewer than double digits.

Caiazza registered a season- and career-high seven points (6 G, 1 A) in the win. Senior midfielder Connor Drost (Wading River, N.Y.) and junior attackman Ryan Slane (North Babylon, N.Y.) collected five points (1 G, 4 A) apiece. Berardis notched a season-high four goals on the day, tying his career-best as well. Junior attackman Matty Beccaris (North Babylon, N.Y.) had three goals and an assist for a four-point output. Bellando pitched in a three-goal showing.

Sophomore defenseman Shane Sweeney (Hicksville, N.Y.) amassed four ground balls and two caused turnovers. Senior defenseman Matt Scalera (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) scooped up three ground balls and caused two turnovers. In the cage, junior goalie Adam Winne (Ridgefield, Conn.) made a game-high 11 saves.

LIU Post was an impressive 18-of-26 (69.2 percent) on faceoffs on the afternoon. Individually, senior Dan Jeannotte (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) won 17-of-24 (70.8 percent) draws and earned 12 ground balls in the process. The Pioneers were also 12-of-15 (80.0 percent) on clears and 6-of-9 (66.7 percent) on the man-up.

Head Coach John Jez and his LIU Post squad are back in action on Wednesday (Mar. 25), when they travel to Waterbury, Conn. to take on non-conference foe Post. The opening faceoff is set for 3:30 p.m.