LOCK HAVEN, Penn. – Looking to continue the positive momentum they built over the last two matches against the University of New Haven and Wilmington University, Post University Men's Soccer headed down to Lock Haven, Pennsylvania on Wednesday afternoon for a neutral site match against Gannon University, another 2023 NCAA Tournament team.

Despite both teams having copious amounts of success over the years and reaching the tournament, this would be the first time in which the two sides met with the Golden Knights getting the better of the Eagles behind two goals from graduate midfielder James Pool to down Post, 4-0.

THE BASICS

Post University 0, Gannon University 4

Post University (3-3-1)

Gannon University (4-2-0)


HOW IT HAPPENED
Early and often, the Golden Knights would attack the Post defense in search of the game's first goal but would be unable to do so as graduate goalkeeper Ricardo Moreno came up with four saves in the first 39 minutes of the match. About halfway through the half, senior forward Francisco Sousa had an opportunity inside the Gannon box, but it was deflected away by the defense after looking to be heading for the top right corner past sophomore goalkeeper Andre Moraes.

Holding a 10-3 overall shot advantage and 5-1 edge in shots on goal, the Golden Knights would score with just under a minute and a half left in the first half to take the lead. After missing an opportunity with 12 minutes left, midfielder Shota Toyama got fed a pair of passes from senior midfielder Herman Aanberg and Pool near the right side. Toyama's shot would make it through the legs of the Eagle defender and freeze Moreno in the process to help Gannon go in front.

Coming out of the break, two more goals in the span of less than a minute furthered the lead for Gannon as Pool beat Moreno with a high shot just under the crossbar and then following Pool's miss off the post just 54 seconds later, freshman midfielder Alander Soares cleaned it up with a soft touch to the back of the goal mouth to extend the Golden Knight advantage to 3-0 with still just under 40 minutes to play.

Freshman forward Per Kristian Lauvstad would help Pool score the fourth goal of the afternoon for Gannon after his shot was deflected away by Moreno, landing right on the midfielder's foot for the score in the 66^th minute as they would down Post, 4-0, at Lock Haven.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Post University was outshot as a team, 20-5 in the match and 10-2 in shots on goal -- The Eagles did manufacture seven corner kick attempts to the 10 for Gannon
• Andre Moraes earned his second shutout of the season for Gannon, stopping the two shots he faced from Post to move to 3-2-0 on the year in net 
• As they enter their conference schedule the rest of the way, Post University went 0-3-0 this season against teams who made the NCAA Tournament in 2023 and was held scoreless in those three matches
• Despite both teams making regular appearances in the NCAA Regionals over the past few years, this was the first time in which Post University and Gannon University have squared off against each other

WHO'S NEXT
Post University heads into conference play the rest of the way starting with a home matchup at LaMoy Field this Saturday against Holy Family University at 2:30 PM. The Eagles have won their last five matches against the Tigers, including the last three by way of the shutout. In last season's 1-0 win on the road, an own goal helped clinch the team's third consecutive CACC Regular Season Title.