No. 3 Men's Lacrosse Falls to No. 4 Merrimack in 2016 Opener, 12-10
Box Score NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Feb. 20, 2016) - On Saturday afternoon, the No. 3/4 LIU Post men's lacrosse team opened up the 2016 campaign with a 12-10 loss to No. 4/2 Merrimack College in non-conference action at Martone-Mejail Field.
The Pioneers (0-1), who trailed 5-4 at the half, scored three unanswered goals to start the third quarter to take a 7-5 lead. Senior midfielder
Anthony Berardis (Mahopac, N.Y.) notched back-to-back goals, including a man-up tally, to put the green and gold ahead. Senior attackman/midfielder
Ryan Slane (North Babylon, N.Y.) added an unassisted marker.
However, the Warriors (1-0) responded with a five-goal run in a six-plus minute stretch to go back in front (10-7) with 6:22 remaining in the fourth quarter.
LIU Post fought back, as Slane and senior attackman
Matty Beccaris (North Babylon, N.Y.) scored 30 seconds apart to close the gap to 10-9 at the 4:55 mark.
That was the closest the Pioneers got though. Senior midfielder Ryan Poirier (Warwick, R.I.) shut the door for the Warriors with back-to-back tallies in the final 3:07.
Beccaris paced the green and gold offensively with four points (3 G, 1 A). Berardis, Slane and senior attackman
Matt Bellando (Miami, Fla.) all had three-point efforts (2 G, 1 A). Graduate midfielder
Jeremy Morgan (Ridge, N.Y.) pitched in a goal and an assist.
Red-shirt junior defenseman
Nick Ancona (East Islip, N.Y.) scooped up five ground balls and caused one turnover. Junior midfielder
Anthony Galeotafiore (Wantagh, N.Y.) won 15-of-25 faceoffs (60.0 percent) and earned five ground balls. Between the pipes, junior goalie
Matthew Liantonio (Miller Place, N.Y.) made a game-high 13 saves.
Head Coach
John Jez and his LIU Post squad next Saturday (Feb. 27), when they open their 2016 home slate against No. 5/6 Adelphi University at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium at noon in Brookville, N.Y.