November 5, 2012
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
Post men capture ECC crown, reach Division II tournament

BROOKHAVEN, N.Y. – Second-seeded C.W. Post avenged its only loss of the season with a 3-2 win over the New York Institute of Technology men to capture the East Coast Conference Championship at Golden Lions Field Sunday.

The Pioneers (18-1) also set a record for wins in a season as they await the NCAA Division II regionals bracket. They will be announced Monday at 7 p.m.

Post junior back Eirik Bjoernoe (Randaberg, Norway), who scored the game-winner in the 84th minute, was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

The top-seeded Pioneers struck first against NYIT, who had defeated them earlier this season, 2-1. Bjoernoe sent a corner kick in front of goal that Alex Billington (Preston, England) finished with a header into the right side of the net.

Just before halftime, momentum swung back to the Bears (9-7-3), who knotted the game at 1-1 on Matt DiDonna's header on a rebound that careened off the crossbar.

The Pioneers, however, wasted little time after halftime, reclaiming the lead in the 51st minute. A foul just past the top of the penalty area gave the Pioneers a free kick that junior forward Cemil Turan (Staten Island, N.Y.) lined into the lower left corner for a 2-1 advantage.

But NYIT again tied the game, as DiDonna scored his second goal on a through ball into the box. He dribbled to the left, sliding just out of the reach of diving goalkeeper Marco Jorgensen (Copenhagen, Denmark) and placing a shot into the far corner in the 63rd minute.

With six minutes remaining in regulation, freshman Matias Ruiz (Southampton, N.Y.) put a hard shot on goal that deflected off keeper Liam Waddy. Bjoernoe headed home the rebound in for the game-winner.

The game was relatively even on the stat sheet as NYIT had a slight 15-13 edge in shots, and took nine corners to four for LIU Post.

Jorgensen made six saves. Waddy stopped four shots.