SPARKILL, N.Y. – Behind a career-high five goals by junior Nick Grassa, the No. 5/6 LIU Post men's lacrosse team defeated Saint Thomas Aquinas College, 15-4 in its East Coast Conference opener on Wednesday, March 13 at Spartan Field.
 
Grassa tallied six points on the day, adding one assist to his five-goal output. Freshman Jake Gillis scored three goals and notched three helpers, while sophomore William Snelders added two goals. Senior Connor Farrell finished 20-for-21 on faceoffs, collecting a game-high 16 ground balls, while also scoring one goal.
 
It was all LIU Post from the opening faceoff as the Pioneers scored just two minutes into the contest on a tally by Snelders before Gillis added a man-up goal moments later. The Green and Gold eventually took a 4-1 lead after the first quarter, scoring just three seconds after the Spartans scored their opening goal of the contest. LIU Post tallied the first five goals of the second quarter, using two goals by Grassa to take a 9-2 lead into the halftime break.
 
The Pioneers outscored Saint Thomas Aquinas 3-0 during the third quarter as Gillis scored twice and freshman Brad Beck scored his second goal in as many games to cap off the scoring as LIU Post improved to 1-0 in ECC play.
 
LIU Post will look to take down its second No. 1 ranked opponent of the season when they take on local rival Adelphi University on Wednesday, March 20 under the lights at Motamed Field. Faceoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.