Game Details:  Saturday, May 5 | 3:00 p.m.
Location: President's Stadium | Old Westbury, N.Y.
Game Links:  Watch Live | Live Stats
Twitter: @LIUPostPioneers | @LIUPMLAX
LIU Post Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats 
NYIT Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats

THE FIRST LOOK
 
What better way to determine the East Coast Conference men's lacrosse champion than another chapter in the Battle of the Boulevard rivalry?
 
The LIU Post men's lacrosse team overpowered No. 3 seed Mercy College in the ECC semifinal round, rolling to a 19-7 victory to advance to Saturday's championship. Junior Thomas Liantonio led the Pioneers with five goals while ECC Rookie of the Year William Snelders chipped in four goals to lead 11 different scorers.

The reigning conference champions and No. 1 overall seed NYIT took down No. 4 seed Molloy College 12-6 to move on to the finals. Michael Trainor scored four goals for the Bears, while Matt Murphy, Andrew Zito, and LeRoy Halftown added two goals apiece.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
 
LIU Post holds a 25-15 advantage in the all-time series, though NYIT has won the past three meetings between the two squads, albeit by a combined seven goals. The Green and Gold are 7-9 at President's Stadium and most recently fell by an 11-7 final score on April 21.
 
LAST TIME THEY MET
 
NYIT outlasted the Pioneers 11-7 in the last meeting. Trailing 6-2 entering the fourth quarter, LIU Post put together a run to make it 8-7 with 3:51 remaining before the Bears tallied three late goals to put the game out of reach. Junior Bryan Ochs made 11 saves in goal, including six in the second half to keep LIU Post within striking distance. It was an even battle in nearly every statistical category and Saturday's matchup should prove to be another thrilling contest.
 
LIU POST KEYS TO SUCCESS
 
Scoring
 
The Pioneers are a perfect 8-0 this season when scoring 10 or more goals. Conversely, in each of their four losses, LIU Post has scored seven or fewer goals. It will be important to set the offensive tone early as the Pioneers like to push in transition to create opportunities on the offensive end.
 
Bucking the Trend
 
The Pioneers are 3-4 away from Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium. The Green and Gold will look to feed off what is expected to be a significant fan base to counteract any home field advantage for the Bears. LIU Post has scored 17 more goals in the second quarter than any other quarter this season and will look to break the game open in the first half to set the tone.
 
 Man-Up Opportunities
 
LIU Post was a perfect 4-for-4 on man-up opportunities against the Mavericks in the semifinals, pushing their man-up conversion rate from 29 percent to over 35 percent for the season. The Pioneers need to continue to roll in extra-man opportunities on the offensive end to slow down the high-powered Bears.
 
NYIT KEYS TO SUCCESS
 
Staying Hot
 
The Bears have won 10 in a row, having last lost on March 10 at Seton Hill. The Bears dropped three in a row in February but have since found the chemistry to get it done on the field. NYIT has scored over 12 goals per game during the winning streak.
 
Home Field Advantage
 
NYIT has been very tough to beat at President's Stadium, compiling a 22-3 record over the past three seasons. The only loss at home this season came against No. 2 Merrimack College, falling 16-14 on February 18.
 
Ball Control
 
The Bears have averaged nearly 14 turnovers per game. Despite having a high-powered offense, NYIT will need to focus on ball security as the Pioneers boast several all-conference defenders and midfielders. In the face-off circle, the Bears win just under 60 percent of draws. The battle in the face-off circle will loom large in the possession battle and could determine the outcome of Saturday's final.
 

TICKET INFORMATION

Admission will be charged for all fans in attendance for Saturday's championship. 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 President's 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.