BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Apr. 20, 2017) - Freshman midfielder Alyssa Mallery (Wantagh, N.Y.) tallied the game-winning goal in the final minute of overtime Thursday to lead the No. 5/7 LIU Post women's lacrosse team to a 9-8 win over No. 10/15 University of New Haven in a non-conference tilt at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium.

After forcing a Chargers' (10-3) turnover at the midway point of overtime, the Pioneers (10-2) challenged UNH freshman goalie Erica Rinsky (North Caldwell, N.J.) in the dwindling minutes and broke through for the game-winner with 16 seconds left on Mallery's goal.

Earlier in the contest, the hosts jumped out to a 5-1 advantage at the intermission. Red-shirt senior attacker Alexis Newman (Medford, N.J.) and sophomore midfielder Ryan McKinney (Downingtown, Pa.) combined for the five Pioneer tallies. Senior attacker Connor Bird (Syosset, N.Y.) dished out three assists.

In the second half, LIU Post kept its foot to the gas pedal, as Bird found the back of the cage just 3:26 into the period to widen the gap to 6-1.

However, New Haven responded with a six-goal run to grab its first lead (7-6) of the game with 8:47 remaining.

Though the Pioneers eventually went back in front on a McKinney goal at the 4:34 mark, senior attacker Caitlin O'Brien (Branford, Conn.), who earlier had the go-ahead tally for the Chargers, netted the game-tying marker with two seconds left to force overtime.

Bird led all players with five points (2 G, 3 A) and four draw controls in the victory. McKinney registered four goals. Newman had three points (2 G, 1 A) and two ground balls. Mallery scooped up two draws, in addition to tallying the game-winning goal. Senior defender Cara Douglas (West Islip, N.Y.) amassed four caused turnovers, three draw controls and two ground balls.

For the contest, the green and gold owned a 27-11 advantage in shots and a 12-8 edge in draws. The Pioneers were also 6-of-8 (75.0 percent) on clears and 1-of-3 (33.3 percent) on free-position attempts.

Head Coach Meghan McNamara and her LIU Post squad return to action Saturday (Apr. 22), when they travel to Dobbs Ferry to battle East Coast Conference rival Mercy College in their 2017 road finale at 1 p.m.