BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – A strong defensive performance coupled with a balanced attack saw the No. 7/6 LIU Post women's lacrosse team earn a 7-2 win over No. 16/20 Merrimack College in the Pioneers' season opener Saturday at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Hailey Duchnowski had a collegiate debut to remember, finishing with 12 saves and along with the LIU Post defense, helped keep Merrimack scoreless in the second half. She also recorded a team-high five ground balls.
 
Junior Alyssa Mallery had a game-high three goals while juniors Paige Sherlock and Brianna Feldman each had two. Mallery also added four ground balls and led the team in draw controls with three. Feldman, junior Angela Deren and sophomore Jamie Alvino caused two turnovers each.
 
LIU Post out shot the Warriors 27-19 and had the edge in shots on goal, 18-14. The Pioneers had 21 ground balls to Merrimack's 20 and had a 7-4 advantage in draw controls.

Sherlock scored the Pioneers' first goal of 2019 on a free position shot with 26:00 on the clock. Mallery added a second shortly after, with 25:25 left in the half that gave the Pioneers an early 2-0 lead. At 24:37 Feldman gave LIU Post a 3-0 advantage after scoring on a free position shot.
 
While Merrimack scored their opening goal with 21:43 left in the half, Mallery scored her second goal with 17:53 on the clock and gave extended the Pioneers' lead to 4-1.
 
The Warriors added one more goal before the end of the half, but Feldman scored her second goal of the game with 6:48 remaining that helped give the Pioneers a 5-2 lead at halftime.
 
In the second half, LIU Post picked up where it left off in the first; Sherlock scored her second goal of the game and gave the Pioneers a 6-2 lead with 18:37 on the clock. Mallery scored her third goal of the contest with 6:21 left in the game on a free position shot and the Pioneers made several key defensive plays in the late stages of the half that helped put the Warrior's comeback attempt to rest.
 
Duchnowski made a crucial save with 5:33 remaining along with another two inside the final 30 seconds that helped LIU Post hold out for the win, 7-2.
 
Up Next
LIU Post returns to Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 3:00 p.m. when it hosts Southern Connecticut State University.