BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The No. 14 LIU Post men's lacrosse team took down No. 11/17 Mercy College on Senior Day to clinch the No. 2 seed in next week's East Coast Conference Championship April 28 at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium.
 
The Pioneers earned a home playoff game with the No. 2 seed and will host Mercy in a rematch of Saturday's contest on Thursday, May 4.
 
Following the win, the men's lacrosse program honored its nine graduating seniors as part of its senior day ceremony.
 
Freshman William Snelders led the Pioneers with five goals on the day, as six other Pioneers scored one goal each. Junior Bryan Ochs was outstanding in goal, making a career-high 16 saves while only allowing five goals.
 
Despite the score line, the contest was very evenly matched as the Pioneers only held a significant advantage in the face-off circle, with junior Connor Farrell winning 12 of 18 draws, including all three in the final quarter.
 
After a stagnant opening 10 minutes, Mercy scored the game's opening goal at the 3:58 mark of the first quarter. The lead did not last long though, as sophomore Nick Grassa found the back of the net less than a minute later and Farrell added another strike just seven seconds later, winning the face-off and sprinting through the defense for his second goal of the season. A late strike by the Mavericks leveled the score, however, as the two squads ended the quarter tied 2-2.
 
The Pioneers took over in the second and third quarters, outscoring Mercy 8-1 during the next 30 minutes behind all four of Snelders's five goals. The Mavericks got two goals back in the final period but it was not enough to come from behind as the Pioneers held on for the home playoff game.
 
A game time for Thursday's rematch has not been announced at this time. A full preview for the Pioneer playoff run will be available on www.liupostpioneers.com next week.