WATERBURY, Conn. –  Junior attacker Leighton Cooke had his fourth straight game with a hat trick after scoring three goals and adding one assist in his four-point day for Post University Men's Lacrosse against #15 Molloy University at LaMoy Field on Saturday afternoon. However, a quick start by the Lions would be all they needed to come away with their seventh win of the season, 10-6, over the Eagles behind seven first-half goals. 

THE BASICS

Post University 6, #15 Molloy University 10

Post University (2-3)

#15 Molloy University (7-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions came out firing on freshman goalie Liam McCurry to the tune of 19 shots, which was their second-highest output behind only the fourth quarter when they rifled off 18 shots against freshman goalie Aiden Waller, who came in the second quarter for McCurry. Senior attacker Bryan Diliberto led the way for the Molloy offense with three goals and three points while junior attacker Justin Palulis was on his tail with two goals and two points on the afternoon. 

Seven different players found the back of the net for the Lions while Cooke scored half of the goals for Post, finishing with his fourth consecutive hat trick after scoring three goals and adding an assist for a four-point game. Molloy would jump out to a 4-0 lead behind four of those scorers before freshman midfielder Will Brien broke the scoreless drought for the Eagles with 4:19 remaining in the first, which was met with Palulis's second goal of the frame shortly after to make it a 5-1 game into the second.

Following a delay of game penalty to McCurry, he would exit the game for Waller having given up five goals on seven shots, making only two saves in the process. Over the final 40:26 of action, Waller, who was making his first appearance of the season for Post, made 14 saves on 19 shots, holding the Lion offense in check. But equally as impressive was senior goalie Christian Michaels with his 12-save afternoon while allowing just six goals in the 10-6 win.

As a team, Post would be out shot 51-37 overall while turning over the ball 28 times to just 11 turnovers for Molloy across the 60 minutes of play. The Lions also finished the game a perfect 28-for-28 on clear attempts while first-quarter struggles for the Eagles in that area of the game led to a 21-for-27 finish. Freshman midfielder Charlie Foster was the faceoff man for Post today, going a season-high 12-for-18 as junior faceoff specialist Jaxon Holden was sidelined with an injury. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Robbie McGrayne was held to two points today, scoring once while assisting once as he sits at 187 career points which is just 15 points away from Dylan Heald's (2021-24) all-time point record at 202 points 
• Ryan Denike is still awaiting his 100th point to become the sixth member of the program's 100 Point Club as he was held to no points in today's game against Molloy University 
• After recording his 100th goal against St. Thomas Aquinas College, Hunter McCarty is now in pursuit of 200 career points and had two more today via his goal and assist, bringing him to 165 career points 
• Currently on pace to break another record, Robbie McGrayne needs to play in at least five more games this season for Post University to become the all-time leader in career games played by three different players in Jack Kearney, Frank Nichols Jr., and Peter Naboka with 55 games played each 

WHO'S NEXT
Post University hits the road for two games over the spring break, starting things off with a matchup against the University of the District of Columbia on Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 PM. The Eagles hold a 4-2 record in the all-time series against the Firebirds, beating them last in 2020 when the two teams went to overtime at LaMoy Field with Post coming out on top, 15-14.