Game Details:  Wednesday, May 2 | 3:00 p.m.
Location: Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium | Brookville, N.Y.
Game Links:  Watch Live | Live Stats
Twitter: @LIUPostPioneers | @LIUPMLAX
LIU Post Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats 
Mercy Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats

THE FIRST LOOK
 
The LIU Post men's lacrosse team secured the No. 2 seed for the East Coast Conference Championship with an 11-5 victory against No. 11/17 Mercy College on Senior Day April 28. The Pioneers are in search of their fourth conference title in five seasons this week.
 
The Green and Gold enter championship weekend as winners of three of its last five games, dropping two contests to nationally ranked opponents before taking down the Mavericks in the season finale to set up a rematch on Wednesday.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
 
LIU Post has done well historically against Mercy, winning nine of the 10 matchups between the two squads. The Pioneers won the first eight meetings before the Mavericks earned their first win last season, 11-8. LIU Post has outscored Mercy 116-79 throughout the 10 contests and has scored in double figures in eight of the 10 meetings.  
 
LAST TIME THEY MET
 
You do not need to look back far to find the last meeting between the two squads as it came just three days ago on Saturday, April 29. Junior goalkeeper Bryan Ochs had a career day for the Pioneers, stopping a collegiate-best 16 shots and allowing just five goals. On the offensive end, freshman William Snelders tallied a team-best five goals on the day to help secure the key victory to close out the season.
 
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
 
The Pioneers have relied on their defensive efforts this season in league play, allowing a conference-best 7.00 goals per game, while also ranking second offensively with 11.67 goals per contest. Snelders has carried the bulk of the offensive load, scoring an ECC-best 54 goals this season, leading the nation in goals per game and ranking tied for fourth overall in total goals.
 
The offensive attack has been set up by the success of junior Connor Farrell in the face-off circle. Farrell ranks second in the conference and seventh in the country with a .696 winning percentage. In a win against Post University, Farrell went a perfect 23-of-23, becoming the seventh player in Division II this season to record a perfect winning percentage while winning at least 10 draws.
 
Between the pipes, Ochs ranks second in the conference in save percentage, stopping 55.8 percent of shots on goal. The junior also ranks second in goals-against average at 8.14.
 
 
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
 
It will be a battle of the top goalkeepers in the conference, as Ryan Gibbons leads the ECC with a 59.1 save percentage and a 7.56 goals-against average. The Mavericks and Pioneers both scored the second-most goals in league play this year with 70 tallies and Mercy sits third in goals allowed per game in league play with 8.00.
 
Mercy features a balanced offensive attack with four players above 40 points on the season. Ryan MacSpadyen leads the Mavericks in goals with 34 and sits second in assists with 18 helpers. Antonio Rey serves as the primary face-off man for the Mavericks and sports a .542 winning percentage. The sophomore has had his share of issues in the circle as of late, however, winning just 37.9 percent of draws over the last four contests. The Pioneers will look to take advantage in the face-off circle to win the possession battle.
 
The Mavericks enter the postseason having lost their final three regular season, including setbacks to the New York Institute of Technology and LIU Post for their only two ECC losses.

TICKET INFORMATION

Admission will be charged for all fans in attendance for Wednesday's semifinal matchup. Tickets for adults will be $8 and students with valid ID, senior citizens, and children ages 5-12 will be admitted for $4. Children under the age of five will not be charged admission. Fans that cannot make it to the Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium can follow along with live video available on the ECC Network free of charge. Fans can also follow along with live stats at www.liupostpioneers.com.