No. 4 Men's Lacrosse Drubs Saint Anselm in 2014 Opener, 17-5
Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Feb. 22, 2014) - The fourth-ranked LIU Post men's lacrosse team scored 15 unanswered goals to start the game Saturday in a season-opening 17-5 triumph against Saint Anselm at Hickox Field in Brookville, N.Y.
The Pioneers (1-0) managed eight tallies in the first quarter, three in the second, and four in the third, before the Hawks (0-1) got on the board. In the opening session, the hosts registered six of their eight goals over a span of 4:55. Senior attackman/midfielder
Connor Mackay (Shrub Oak, N.Y.), junior attackman
Chris Caiazza (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) and sophomore midfielder
Anthony Berardis (Mahopac, N.Y.) each notched a pair of markers in the period. Junior midfielder
Connor Drost (Wading River, N.Y.) added a tally and two assists.
One quarter later, Caiazza and Berardis picked up from where they left off in the first 15-minute stanza. Caiazza, who finished with a game-best five goals in his first game for the green and gold, put home two even-strength tallies, while Berardis found the back of the cage on a man-up opportunity. LIU Post would carry a commanding 11-0 cushion into the break.
Following a 10-minute halftime, the Pioneers continued to pour it on, scoring three markers in the first 1:31. Caiazza, Drost and sophomore attackman
Ryan Slane (North Babylon, N.Y.) accounted for the tallies. Berardis later followed with his third goal of the contest at the 8:02 mark to widen the hosts' advantage to 15-0.
The Hawks came on strong late into the latter half though, collecting five goals in the last 17:32, three of which came with the extra man. However, it wouldn't be enough, as LIU Post cruised to victory.
The Pioneers owned a 40-33 advantage in shots, and a 26-25 edge in ground balls. They were also a near-perfect 17-of-18 (94.4 percent) on clears, and scored twice in five man-up chances.
Drost checked in a game-high six points (2 G, 4 A). Berardis posted a four-goal performance. Sophomore attackman
Matty Beccaris (North Babylon, N.Y.) dished out four assists. Slane added three points (2 G, 1 A), two ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers. Senior defenseman
T.J. McAndrew (Randolph, N.J.) had three caused turnovers and two ground balls.
Between the pipes, graduate goalie
T.J. DiCarlo (Farmingdale, N.Y.) made 12 saves for LIU Post. His counterpart, James O'Neill (East Walpole, Mass.), stopped 11 shots for Saint Anselm.
Head Coach
John Jez and the Pioneers return to action next Saturday (Mar. 1), when they kick off East Coast Conference play against Mercy. The opening faceoff is slated for 11 a.m.