Brookville, N.Y. - On Wednesday, the No. 22 and second-seeded LIU Post women's soccer team defeated third-seeded Mercy College, 2-0, in an East Coast Conference Championship semifinal at Pioneer Soccer Park.
The win advances the Pioneers (14-2-2) to their first ECC Championship final since 2010. That year, LIU Post won a 1-0 overtime decision against Queens College to capture the league title.
The Pioneers, who picked up their eighth-consecutive shutout, broke the 0-0 deadlock in the 41st minute. After Sarah McGarry (Islip, N.Y.) played a cross into the 18-yard box, the ball re-directed off a Mavericks' (12-5-1) defender and found the head of freshman midfielder Veronica Saager (East Islip, N.Y.) for the go-ahead tally.
LIU Post eventually took a 1-0 advantage into halftime, and tacked on a key insurance goal in the latter period.
In the 69th minute, sophomore back/midfielder Alice Schonfeldt (Burtrask, Sweden) converted on a penalty kick to extend the Pioneers' lead to 2-0.
Between the pipes, sophomore goalkeeper Hillevi Eklow (Väröbacka, Sweden) made a game-high seven saves for LIU Post, including six stops in the second half. Junior netminder Ashley Price (Goodyear, Ariz.) had two stops for Mercy.
The Pioneers will now play the winner of the ECC Tournament semifinal between No. 1 seed University of Bridgeport and No. 4 seed Roberts Wesleyan College at the highest remaining seed.
Provided by the LIU Post Sports Information Department.
