Brookville, N.Y. - Junior Charlie Ledula scored the game-winner in the 85th minute to send the fourth-ranked and top-seeded LIU Post men's soccer team to the Third Round of the NCAA Division II tournament, after taking down the fifth-seeded University of the District of Columbia, 2-1, at Pioneer Soccer Park on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, the Pioneers improve to 17-0-2 on the year while the Firebirds end their 2017 campaign 15-7. This marked the third time the two squads met up this season, most recently facing off in the East Coast Conference title game.
LIU Post opened the match's scoring in the seventh minute when graduate forward Lukas Ostermann dribbled through a pair of UDC defenders and beat the keeper to get the hosts on the board.
Not to be kept off the board, Kelvin Hererra brought the guests level (1-1) in the 23rd minute with his fourth goal of the season.
The green and gold sought its best opportunity to take the lead in the final seconds of the first half when Harry Pearse's shot rang the post but was cleared away by the UDC defenders to enter the break tied at one.
Neither side was able to find the back of the net over the first 40+ minutes in the latter half. But with less than five minutes to play in the contest, sophomore back Mike Sutton, who was streaking down the right side, sent a cross into the box which found the head of Ledula to score the game-winning goal keeping the Pioneers' season alive.
Despite the hosts outshooting the Firebirds 14-5, UDC held the advantage in corners at 7-3. Oliver Hessner Hansen turned aside two shots during his 90 minutes between the pipes for the green and gold, while his counterpart Ever Alvarez made six stops on the afternoon.
Head Coach Andreas Lindberg and the Pioneers advance to the Sweet Sixteen and await the winner of Adelphi versus Goldey-Beacom. For the up-to-date bracket of the 2017 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship, please click here.
Provided by the LIU Post Sports Information Department.
