BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Mar. 4, 2017) - On Saturday, the No. 19/20 LIU Post men's lacrosse team opened up its 2017 East Coast Conference slate with an 11-4 win over Molloy College at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium in Brookville.

Leading 3-2 in the third quarter, the Pioneers (3-3, 1-0 ECC) tallied three unanswered goals in a span of 3:38 to widen the gap to a four-goal margin (6-2) at the 5:02 mark. Junior midfielder Dylan Harned (Selden, N.Y.) netted back-to-back goals in the run, including a man-up marker.

Then, in the fourth quarter, Molloy (2-2, 0-1 ECC) cut the deficit to a three-goal game (7-4), before LIU Post scored the last four goals of the contest to seal the victory.

Sophomore attackman/midfielder Frank Ranfone (Guilford, Conn.) notched a pair of goals in the effort. Junior attackman Chris Trasacco (Cheshire, Conn.) recorded three assists, as part of a game-high five-point day (2 G, 3 A).

In the opening half of play, the Pioneers allowed the game's first goal, but reeled off a three-goal response to take a 3-1 lead into the break. Ranfone, Trasacco and sophomore midfielder Steven Frank (Hauppauge, N.Y.) accounted for the goals for the hosts.

Ranfone finished with four points (3 G, 1 A) and three ground balls in the game. Harned added two goals and an assist for a three-point output. Frank chipped in a pair of goals.

Senior defenseman Ryan Stern (Shoreham, N.Y.) totaled four ground balls and three caused turnovers. Donahoe and junior midfielder Kris Alvarado (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) each had two ground balls and forced one turnover. Senior defenseman Shane Sweeney (Hicksville, N.Y.) collected two ground balls.

Sophomore midfielder Connor Farrell (Holtsville, N.Y.) was strong on faceoffs, winning 11-of-17 (64.7 percent) draws. He also scooped up five ground balls in the process.

Between the pipes, senior goaltender Matthew Liantonio (Miller Place, N.Y.) made a game-best and season-high-tying 11 saves for LIU Post. His counterpart, Ryan Toomey (Hicksville, N.Y.), stopped 10 shots for Molloy.

In all, the Pioneers owned a 35-31 advantage in shots and a 31-27 edge in ground balls. Additionally, LIU Post cleared the ball at an 88.9 (16-of-18) success rate and converted 2-of-5 (40.0 percent) extra-man opportunities.

Head Coach John Jez and the Pioneers are back in action next Saturday (Mar. 11), when they battle ECC foe Chestnut Hill College at 11 a.m. at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium in Brookville.