Waterbury, Conn. – After jumping out to an early one goal lead, the Post University women's soccer team gave up three goals in the second half and dropped a 3-1 decision to New York Institution of Technology in an out-of-conference game at LaMoy Field on Thursday afternoon.
 
The Eagles took advantage of a costly early mistake from the Bears as junior Katharina Mertz (Buxtehude, Germany) scored on a penalty kick in the second minute after a foul inside the box. It was Mertz first goal of the season as she tries to build off of her 11 goal campaign from a season ago.
 
NYIT would cause the Eagles defense to bend, but not break in the first half as they kept the ball in the offensive zone for most of the half. Two shots hit the crossbar and post. The Eagles would go into the break with a 1-0 lead.
 
The Bears finally broke through shortly after halftime, in the 49^th minute as Kim Spiciarch made a move past Post goaltender, sophomore Caliah Baranowski (Naugatuck, Conn.) and put it in an empty net to tie the game, 1-1.
 
NYIT would then tack on two more goals, the first by Taylor Davide who tipped in a shot off the foot of Kristin Muir to give the Bears a 2-1 lead in the 64^th minute. In the 69^th minute, Christina Cottone took a shot from 25 yards out that bent into the top right corner of the goal over the outstretched hand of Baranowski to give the Bears a 3-1 lead.
 
The Eagles started five freshman in the game, and, even with a tough out-of-conference schedule, coach Matt Micros hopes this will prepare the team for Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play.
 
"We are young and inexperienced, but we have some skill and athleticism that will hopefully translate into success as they get more comfortable playing together."
 
Up next for the Eagles is an out-of-conference game at Southern New Hampshire University on September 7 at 5 p.m.