DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 25, 2015) - Three different players netted hat tricks for the Pioneers on Saturday, as the No. 6/5 LIU Post men's lacrosse team defeated East Coast Conference rival Mercy, 12-10, at Mercy Field.

Senior attackman Chris Caiazza (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) and junior attackmen Matty Beccaris (North Babylon, N.Y.) and Matt Bellando (Miami, Fla.) all scored three goals apiece. Senior midfielder Connor Drost (Wading River, N.Y.) had a goal and two assists for a three-point showing.

LIU Post (12-2, 8-0 ECC) came out firing, tallying three unanswered goals to start the game, Caiazza, Beccaris and Drost each found the back of the cage on an unassisted effort. Mercy (10-5, 5-3 ECC) fought back though and cut the deficit to 3-2 at the end of one quarter of play.

Midway through the second quarter, the Pioneers still led by one (4-3), until a three-goal burst in a span of 1:08 extended their advantage to 7-3 with 5:58 remaining. The run was bookended by even-strength tallies from Caiazza and junior midfielder Anthony Berardis (Mahopac, N.Y.). Bellando added a goal on the man-up, as well.

The green and gold eventually led 7-5 at halftime, but a strong push by the Mavericks in the third quarter evened the contest at 9-all through 45 minutes of play.

In the fourth quarter, however, Bellando took over offensively and struck twice in the first 2:22 of the session to secure LIU Post's third-consecutive victory. Beccaris tacked on another goal at the 2:58 mark for good measure.

Junior attackman Ryan Slane (North Babylon, N.Y.) collected a goal and an assist in the win. Senior defenseman Matt Scalera (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) scooped up a game-high seven ground balls. Fellow senior defenseman Steve Gruse (New Fairfield, Conn.) amassed three caused turnovers and two ground balls. Caiazza and sophomore defenseman Ryan Stern (Shoreham, N.Y.) had three ground balls apiece. Stern also caused one turnover.

Between the pipes, junior goalie Adam Winne (Ridgefield, Conn.) finished with a game-best 11 saves for the Pioneers, who were 14-of-18 (77.8 percent) on clears. Additionally, the green and gold were a perfect 2-of-2 with the extra-man opportunity.

Head Coach John Jez and his LIU Post squad have won the league's regular-season title and clinched the No. 1 seed in the upcoming ECC Championship. They will host fourth-seeded Molloy in a semifinal tilt on Wednesday (Apr. 29) at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium in Brookville. The opening faceoff is set for 3 p.m.