SPARKILL, N.Y. -- The first collegiate goal as a member of Post University Women's Soccer could not have come at a better time for junior midfielder Larissa Bluntschli. The junior's first-half goal put Post ahead by two goals on the road against St. Thomas Aquinas on Tuesday, which would end up proving to be the difference maker as the Eagles held off a late Spartans rally for the 2-1 victory, snapping a four-match winless streak. 

THE BASICS 
Post University 2, St. Thomas Aquinas 1 

Post University (3-8-3)

St. Thomas Aquinas (2-11-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED 
Making her first start in net of the season for the Eagles, junior goalkeeper Claire Said held the Spartans in check during the first half, stopping the two shots she faced while the offense went to work. Said would finish the match with three total saves on four shot attempts by St. Thomas Aquinas to earn her first win of the season and since 2021 as a goalkeeper.

Meanwhile, senior defender Amber McGee had the sister-sister connection once more with senior forward Hailey McGee in the 31st minute to give the Eagles the lead as well as give her a two-goal lead on her sister for the team lead in goals scored with five. Hailey McGee is currently ranked second on the team in goals scored this season with three. 

What would end up proving crucial when things were all set and done on Tuesday was the Bluntschli goal just over nine minutes later in the 40th minute when junior forward Tassia Ferreira's pass for her first assist of the season would set up Bluntschli for her first collegiate goal as an Eagle and a 2-0 lead for her team which would hold up into halftime. 

After making two first-half saves, freshman goalkeeper Catalena Robson would not have to make any saves in net for the Spartans as the defensive front kept the Eagles at bay over the final 45 minutes of play. However, the St. Thomas Aquinas offense would come to life against Said when sophomore forward Sarai Rodriguez found freshman midfielder Ellie Croshaw for the goal, cutting their deficit in half with still well over 16 minutes left in the match.

Despite the continued pressure from the Spartans, Post would hold their own down the stretch in a match, which saw just seven total corner kicks including only one in the second half by St. Thomas Aquinas in the 63rd minute, to escape Sparkill, New York with a 2-1 victory as they enter the final week of their season. 

BY THE NUMBERS 

• This was Claire Said's first start in net this season as well as her first win since 2021, she is now 4-1-0 in 11 appearances 
• Having two more road matches left, Post University has a chance to get over .500 in road matches this season, entering this final stretch now at 2-3-0 on the season 
• With the win, Post University snaps an 0-4-1 streak against St. Thomas Aquinas dating back to 2009 
• Post University is now 2-2-2 this season when scoring first in a match 

WHO'S NEXT 
Post University will close out their 2023 campaign with two more conference matches starting with Saturday afternoon's match against Holy Family University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 2:30 PM. Although 2-18-0 all-time against the Tigers, the Eagles snapped a seven-game losing streak to Holy Family last year at home with a 1-0 win on September 10th.