The Pioneer Trail: Thursday, Mar. 12, 2015

3/12/2015 10:28:00 AM

Women's Swimming at Day 2 of the NCAA Division II National Championships
The LIU Post women's swimming team grabbed 18 total points in the first day of competition at the NCAA Division II National Championships on Wednesday (Mar. 11). Heading into Day 2, the Pioneers will look to some of their best competitors to help the green and gold leapfrog into the top-10 in the rankings.

Senior Carolin Rademacher (Isernhagen, Germany) was the star for LIU Post in the first day of competition in Indianapolis, as she collected a seventh-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley race. Rademacher touched the wall in 2:02.83 and collected 12 points for the Pioneers in that one race, alone. Senior Johanna Pettersson (Kungalv, Sweden) finished third in the 200 IM consolation finals, and placed 11th overall with a time of 2:03.92. Her performance was good enough for six points on the day.

In Thursday's action, the Pioneers will look to strike back in four different events, including the 200-yard free and 400-yard medley relays, and the 400-yard IM and 100-yard butterfly contests. Junior Joyce Kwok (Middle Village, N.Y) will look to improve on her bronze medal-performance from last year's national championship competition in the 100-yard fly. Kwok currently holds the fourth-best time (53.96) among competing swimmers racing in Indiana this weekend.

Women's Lacrosse vs. Bentley - 7 p.m.
The LIU Post women's lacrosse team has ventured to Florida for a two-game trip in the Sunshine State. Coming off of a loss in their last contest, lacrosse in warm weather might be just what the doctor ordered for the Pioneers to get back on track in their 2015 campaign.

No. 8/8 LIU Post (2-1, 1-0 ECC) dropped a 9-6 decision to now-No. 4/5 Le Moyne on Saurday (Mar. 7) at Ted Grant Field in Syracuse, N.Y. The Dolphins spoiled the first career start for freshman goalkeeper Olivia Kirk (Farmingdale, N.Y.), who made 12 saves in cage for the Pioneers. Senior midfielder Jenna Pierro (Holbrook, N.Y.) and sophomore defensive middie Cara Douglas (West Islip, N.Y.) each scored two goals to lead the green and gold, which lost despite holding an 11-5 advantage in draw controls. 

Bentley (2-1, 1-1 NE-10) is playing the last of a two-game stretch in Florida, coming off of a 15-8 loss to No. 11 Stonehill on Thursday (Mar. 10). Sophomore keeper Lauren Ochs (Rochester, N.Y.) was peppered by 26 Skyhawk shots on goal in the contest, while the Falcons managed just 18 shots on cage. Junior middie Erin O'Connor (Longmeadow, Mass.) scored a hat trick to lead Bentley in the contest, while junior attacker Kelsey Howard (Scarborough, Maine) added two goals of her own.

LIU Post and Bentley will face off exactly one year to the day of their previous meeting, which was coincidentally in Florida. In that contest back on March 12, 2014, the Pioneers used a 10-2 first half to rout their opponents by a final of 17-2. Both Douglas and now-sophomore attacker Stefani Vagelatos (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) had hat tricks in the LIU Post victory.