Brookville, N.Y. - On Friday, the 17th-ranked and top-seeded LIU Post men's soccer team defeated second-seeded NYIT, 3-0, to capture the 2015 East Coast Conference championship at Pioneer Soccer Park.
The Pioneers (14-2-2) have now won three of the last four ECC titles.
In the first half, LIU Post got the majority of the scoring chances, but the NYIT keeper made four saves in the opening 45 minutes. Junior keeper Jesper Malmstrom (Linkopping, Sweden) made one save as the two teams went into the break scoreless.
In the second half, the Pioneers turned up the offense.
In the 57th minute, LIU Post was awarded a free kick within striking distance. Senior midfielder Matias Ruiz (Southampton, N.Y.) sent a ball into the box that found the head of senior forward Per Forgaard (Stavanger, Norway) and the Pioneers went up 1-0.
Then, in the 77th minute, Ruiz sent a cross in off a corner that found the head of graduate back Seb Baxter (Saffron Walden, England), giving the green and gold a 2-0 advantage.
With time winding down in the second half, Ruiz sent a pass into the box that found the foot of junior forward Jason Lampkin (Hawardon, North Wales, UK), who sent a pass to Forgaard. Forgaard deposited his shot into the back of the net for the final marker.
Malmstrom made three saves in the second half to preserve the clean sheet.
Head coach Andreas Lindberg and the Pioneers now await seeding in the 2015 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship. Fans can watch the selection show live on Monday (Nov. 9) at 6 p.m.
Provided by the LIU Post Sports Information Department.
