BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Feb. 25, 2017) - Sophomore midfielder Ryan McKinney (Downingtown, Pa.) tallied a career-high six goals Saturday to lift the No. 4/4 LIU Post women's lacrosse team to a season-opening 15-8 win over No. 20/18 Pace University at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium.

Tied 7-7 nearly midway through the second half, the Pioneers (1-0) exploded for six unanswered goals to pull away late. McKinney recorded a pair of tallies in the streak. Freshman midfielders Sara Stephens (Farmingdale, N.Y.) and Alyssa Mallery (Wantagh, N.Y.) each netted their first collegiate goal.

In the opening 30-minute session, the two squads were tied up at 4-all, until LIU Post scored the final three goals of the half to carry a 7-4 advantage into the break. McKinney accounted for two of the goals, while freshman midfielder Brianna Feldman (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) contributed a free-position tally.

Senior attackers Connor Bird (Syosset, N.Y.) had three goals and an assist for four points in the win. She also scooped up a game-high seven draw controls and three ground balls. Fellow senior attacker Stefani Vagelatos (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) collected four points (2 G, 2 A), as well. Red-shirt senior attacker Alexis Newman (Medford Lakes, N.J.) dished out a pair of assists.

Senior defender Cara Douglas (West Islip, N.Y.) added three ground balls, three draws and two caused turnovers. Sophomore attacker Morgan Lannig (Syosset, N.Y.) won a pair of ground balls and pitched in an assist.

Between the pipes, junior goalie Olivia Kirk (Farmingdale, N.Y.) made a game-high-tying eight saves for the Pioneers, who committed only nine turnovers in the contest.

For the game, the hosts nearly doubled up the Setters (0-1) in shots, 34-17, and owned a 16-9 edge in draw controls. Additionally, the green and gold was successful on 9-of-11 (81.8 percent) clears and converted on 6-of-12 free-position attempts.

Head Coach Meghan McNamara and the Pioneers are back in action Wednesday (Mar. 1), when they square off with Nyack College in a non-conference showdown at 7 p.m. in Nyack.