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NCAA East Regional Thursday, Nov. 14 – 7 p.m. No 3. Post vs. No. 6 Wilmington George J. Larkin Field – Manchester, N.H. Coverage: Live Stats | Live Video

 
Tournament Homepage | Interactive Bracket | Tournament Program

WATERBURY, Conn. – The Post University men's soccer team will be facing a familiar opponent as it opens the 2013 NCAA Tournament on Thursday, Nov. 14. The third-seeded Eagles head to Manchester, N.H. to take on sixth-seeded Wilmington in the first round. Post and Wilmington have played each other twice this season with the Eagles coming out on top both times, including a 4-2 penalty kick victory in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Semi-Finals last week.
 
Both Post and Wilmington are making their second-ever appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Last season, the Eagles earned the fifth-seed fell 3-1 at fourth-seeded UMass-Lowell in the first round. The Wildcats lost at Southern New Hampshire 1-0 in overtime in their only appearance in 2009.
 
Eagles in the NCAA Tournament
Post is making just its second-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Last season as the fifth-seed, the Eagles fell to fourth-seeded UMass-Lowell 3-1 in Lowell, Mass. After falling behind 3-0, Joe Baccielo finally put Post on the board in the 64^th minute with a header off a cross by Francisco Sastre.
 
Against Wilmington This Season
Oct. 5 - No. 15 Post 3, Wilmington 1 – Box Score | Recap
The Eagles won their sixth straight game on Oct. 5, 3-1 at Wilmington. After falling behind on a Wildcats' goal by Elton Joe, Post answered with three second-half scored for the victory. Post took the lead in the second half with two quick goals. Francisco Sastre tied the score in the 58^th minute with a shot deflected off the defender into the goal. Joe Baccielo scored two minutes later off a pass from Sastre to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead. Post put the game away with another score in the 72^nd minute. Senior Kevin Ipina (Danbury, Conn.) found Sastre on the left side. Sastre shot it to the right side for his second goal of the game and fifth in the last four games.
 
Nov. 6 (CACC Semi-Finals) – No. 1 Post 1, No. 4 Wilmington 1 (Post Wins PKs 4-2) –
Box Score | Recap
The top-seeded Post University men's soccer team made all four of its penalty kick attempts as the Eagles defeated fourth-seeded Wilmington to advance to the CACC Championship game on Nov. 6. The teams tied 1-1 after two overtime periods and Post won 4-2 in penalty kicks.
 
Francisco Sastre scored in the fourth-round of penalty kicks for the victory. The Wildcats missed their first attempt as Lance Berry hit it very high over the net. Joe Baccielo, Ani Lekaj, and Krzysztof Giezek each made their attempts to put Post in front 3-2 after three rounds. Andre Lindsay stopped Todd Woll's shot to give Sastre a chance for the victory.
 
Elton Joe received a cross inside from Jordon Ellison and found the back of the net in the 14^th minute to put Wilmington ahead 1-0 at the break. The Eagles knotted the score in the 59^th minute as Jon Dzurilla scored his first goal of the season off a pass from Terrell Whitting. Dzurilla received the pass from 10 yards out and had an open shot for the goal.
 
Scouting the Wildcats
Wilmington enters the tournament at a record of 12-5-2 overall. They advanced to the CACC Semi-Finals before falling to Post on penalty kicks, 4-2. The Wildcats are led by First Team All-CACC forward Elton Joe who was third in the conference with 15 goals and second with 37 points. Tommy Quaranta was named Second Team All-CACC.
 
All-Time Series vs. Wilmington
Post is 7-7-3 all-time against the Wildcats. In two meetings this year, the Eagles are 1-0-1 and won a game on penalty kicks in the CACC Semi-Finals. Post has defeated Wilmington in tournament play in three of the last five years to end the Wildcats' season. The Eagles are 3-0-1 against Wilmington on neutral sites.
Results
11/6/13…………N (CACC)..……..T, 1-1 (PK 4-2)
10/5/13………………..A..………..W, 3-1
11/2/12…………N (CACC)….…..W, 1-0
9/22/12…………….H..……….…..W, 4-0
10/1/11….................A………..........L, 4-0
11/2/10….................N...…..............W, 2-1
9/18/10….................H...…...............L, 1-0
10/28/09…...............A...……...........L, 3-1
11/4/08….................H...…...............W, 2-1
10/30/08…...............A...……...T, 0-0 (2OT)
 
Bringing Home the Hardware
The Eagles had eight players named to the All-CACC team in 2013, led by two-time player of the year Joe Baccielo. Jean Louis Cadet, Kevin Ipina, Ani Lekaj, and Andre Lindsay were also named to the first team. Raphael Moura, Francisco Sastre, and Krzysztof Giezek all made the second team. Ted Haley was named CACC Coach of the Year for the third-consecutive season. Moura also received the Top XIV Award for having the highest GPA of the four teams at the championship site.
 
Clean Sheets For Lindsay
Senior goalkeeper Andre Lindsey (Clarendon, Jamaica) has allowed just 11 goals this season and recorded shutouts in nine of Post's victories and shared a shutout against Felician. He leads the conference in goals against average (0.55), shutouts (9), and save percentage (.859). Lindsay is eighth in the nation in save percentage and goals against average.
 
Creating Chances
Post has outshot its opponents 267-189 this season.  The Eagles do most of their damage in the first have as they hold a 116-78 advantage in the opening period this season.
 
Defending The Prize
The Eagles have one of the top defenses in the country. Post is seventh in the nation in goals against average (0.54) and eighth in save percentage (0.859). Post has allowed just 11 goals all season and is ranked ninth in shutout percentage (0.53) with nine on the year.
 
Jumping Into The National Spotlight
The Eagles are currently ranked No. 15 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll released on Nov. 12. It marks the eighth week this season Post is ranked in the Top 25. The Eagles have been regionally ranked in the top four all season.
Previous NSCAA Rankings
Date – National, Regional
Sept. 10 – No. 12, East: No. 2
Sept. 17 – East: No. 4
Sept. 24 – Receiving Votes, East: No. 4
Oct. 1 – No. 15, East: No. 2
Oct. 8 – No. 13, East: No. 2
Oct. 15 – No. 9, East: No. 2
Oct. 22 – No. 15, East: No. 3
Oct. 29 – No. 6, East: No. 1
Nov. 5 – No. 5, East: No. 1
Nov. 12 – No. 15, East: No. 3
 
Accolades From The Conference
Post has had multiple members of the team honored by the conference this season. Most recently, Joe Baccielo and Andre Lindsay were named Co-Player and Defense Player of the Week, respectively, on Oct. 28. On Sept. 9, Raphael Moura was selected as Co-Player of the Week and Lindsay was tabbed as Defensive Player of the Week. Lindsay was also named the ECAC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 9. Francisco Sastre was named conference player of the week on Oct. 7 and Nov. 5. Terrell Whtting was named to the Honor Roll on Oct 20.
 
Home Sweet Home
Post is unbeaten in 27 of its last 28 home games. The Eagles are 23-1-4, have outscored opponents 66-13 and posted 11 shutouts over the stretch. The lone defeat during the stretch came against Chestnut Hill on Sept. 15. Post is also unbeaten in 21 of its last 22 regular season conference games.
 
Baccielo Breaks Scoring Record
Senior Joe Baccielo scored three goals on Oct. 8 against Felician to surpass Maurice Johnson to become the all-time leading point-scorer in Post men's soccer history. He now stands at 77 career points. Baccielo surpassed Eurica Trowers with 33 career goals on Oct. 29. He is one back of Johan Pineda with 17 career assists. Senior Kevin Ipina sits at 11 career assists, seven back of the record.
 
Eagles Against Nationally Ranked Opponents
Post is 2-0 against NSCAA Top 10 teams this season. The Eagles defeated No. 7 Southern New Hampshire 1-0 on Sept. 5 to open the season. Post was victorious on Oct. 23 against No. 1 LIU-Post 1-0. They are the first two wins the Eagles have ever had against ranked opponents.
Previous Results
10/23/13 – vs. No. 1 LIU-Post – W, 1-0
9/5/13 – at No. 7 Southern New Hampshire – W, 1-0
10/23/12 – at No. 2 LIU-Post – L, 3-1
9/29/12 – at No. 15 Southern New Hampshire – L, 4-1
 
Preseason Prognostications
The Post men's soccer team was tabbed to finish first in the CACC in the Preseason Poll released on Aug. 20. The Eagles received seven first-place votes and 157 points as voted on by the league's 13 head coaches.
 
On The Horizon
The winner of this game will play host, Southern New Hampshire on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 1 p.m.