SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Defense has been the name of the game for Post University Men's Lacrosse as they have held their opponents to under 10 goals in three of their last four affairs. With that being the case, it was only a matter of time before the wins started to roll in and on Wednesday night in the rain, that is exactly what happened. Facing off against American International College (AIC) in their final game of a five-game road trip to end the season, the Eagles used a five-goal first quarter to hold steady for an 11-7 victory, snapping a two-game losing skid.

THE BASICS

Post University 11, American International College 7

Post University (2-3)

American International College (3-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite turning the ball over 14 times compared to just nine for the Yellow Jackets and four penalties which totaled two full minutes, the Eagles would head into halftime with a 6-3 lead behind solid goaltending from senior goalie Cole George and a 4-0 run by the offense. George had eight first-half saves and after giving up two goals in the first four minutes of the game would not allow another goal until the middle of the second quarter which snapped the Post run.
 
Senior midfielder Hayden Hindman got the scoring started for the Eagles before AIC responded with a pair of scores from sophomore midfielder Micaiah Boyle and freshman attacker Jack Bamford to take a 2-1 lead. Pulling within two goals of 100 in his career, senior attacker Dylan Heald got the run started by tying the game before Hindman tacked on his second of the half between two from junior attacker Robbie McGrayne who leads the team in goals thus far.
 
Nine combined goals were scored between both sides in the second half starting with freshman attacker Dawson Long's score that brought AIC back within two, 6-4. That would be the closest they would get as four straight goals from the Post offense from four different players, which was capped off by McGrayne's third goal of the night to give him a hat trick, was enough of a cushion for the Eagles to secure the win.
 
With the game already in hand for Post, the Yellow Jackets would net a couple more goals in the final two minutes and change around Heald's 99^th career goal to bring the final score to a respectable 11-7 game. While committing 26 turnovers to AIC's 22 turnovers, Post would successfully clear all by two of their 24 attempts, dominate in faceoffs winning 17-of-21, and hold AIC off the scoreboard on five man-up advantages. It was the first game this season in which Post has not allowed their opponent to score when they were in a man-up situation.

BY THE NUMBERS

• All six Post University players who helped the Eagles score offensively finished with multi-point games with Robbie McGrayne being the high point man with five total points (three goals, two assists)
• Post University dominated in the faceoff circle, winning 17-of-21 faceoffs overall with Jaxon Holden winning 16-of-20 – This was Holden's first game since the season opener against Wheeling University over a month ago
• Dylan Heald's two goals tonight bring him to 99 in his career across 41 total games played – Heald will look to become the first player in program history to reach 100 career goals as he already surpassed Trevor Buchas (2015-17) for most career goals (91)
• When Post University holds their opponent to under 10 goals in a game, they are 2-1 so far this season
• For the first time this season, Post University did not allow their opponent to score when playing a man down, killing off all five man-up advantages that AIC had

WHO'S NEXT
Post University prepares for its 2024 home opener at LaMoy Field scheduled to take place this Saturday at 2:00 PM against St. Thomas Aquinas College in what will be their first of three home games over Spring Break. The Eagles are 4-2 against the Spartans in the all-time series with victories in each of the last two matchups.