ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Freshman
William Snelders cemented a place in Division II men's lacrosse history Saturday, scoring 10 goals and adding 2 assists for 12 points to lift the No. 14/19 Pioneers past Roberts Wesleyan College, 16-10 at Jackson Field March 31.
The Port Jefferson Station native matched
Edmond Renaud of Lake Erie College for the most goals in a single-game in NCAA play this season across all three divisions. The 10 tallies also rank tied for sixth all-time in NCAA Division II history, two goals off the record held by LIU Post alumnus
Christopher Quinn. Before this season, no other Division II player had scored 10 or more goals in a contest since
Wesley Green of Adelphi University did so on April 26, 2006.
Senior
Dylan Harned was the lone Pioneers besides Snelders to finish with multiple goals. Senior
Chris Trasacco added four points behind a goal and three assists, while seven other Pioneers added helpers on the day as LIU Post assisted on 12 of its 16 goals.
As a team the Green and Gold outshot the Redhawks 49-27, forcing Roberts Wesleyan goalkeeper
Pay Hynes to make a career-high 23 saves on the day. The Pioneers also dominated the ground game, holding a 43-30 edge in ground balls and finished 22-of-23 on clear attempts. The game also was a highly emotional contest for both squads, as the teams combined for 17 penalties on the day.
The Redhawks jumped ahead early in the first quarter, but Snelders scored the first three goals for LIU Post, leading to a 3-3 score at the end of the frame. The Pioneers opened the second quarter on a 5-0 run, however, outscoring Roberts Wesleyan 8-1 to take an 11-4 lead into the halftime break.
Snelders scored the first two goals of the second half for the Pioneers, giving him five unanswered tallies and six consecutive goals for the Pioneers to increase the lead to 13-4. After six stagnant minutes,
Kyle Dunham found the back of the net for the Redhawks, though his tally was answered quickly by Harned's second goal of the day.
Roberts Wesleyan attempted to make a run during the fourth quarter, scoring four unanswered but it was too little, too late as the game was out of reach, and LIU Post held on for the 16-10 victory to open East Coast Conference play 1-0.
The Pioneers return to action in game one of a men's/women's lacrosse doubleheader at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium on Wednesday, April 4 when they host Post University in non-conference action at 1:00 p.m.