SHELTON, Conn. – Heading into the weekend, Post University Men's Ice Hockey controlled its own destiny in terms of locking up a home playoff game in the first round of the Northeast-10 Tournament starting next week. Leading Franklin Pierce University by one point for the fourth seed, the Eagles could secure their seeding with a win on Friday afternoon against Saint Anselm College and a loss by the Ravens to Assumption University on Friday evening. 

They would get both of those things to happen as a four-goal third by the Eagles, led by two goals from senior forward Joe Santoro, and a 6-3 loss by Franklin Pierce to the Greyhounds ensured that Post will be the four seed, heading into the NE10 Tournament to take on fifth-seeded Franklin Pierce on Tuesday afternoon at home at a time to be determined. It is only the second time in program history that the Eagles will host a home playoff game, with the first instance being the 2021-22 season, when they defeated Saint Michael's College, 3-1, on their way to the NE10 Championship Game, their only appearance in program history. 

THE BASICS

Post University 5, Saint Anselm College 2

Post University (8-17-1, 7-11-1 NE10)

Saint Anselm College (11-13-4, 10-7-2 NE10) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Twice in the affair, the Eagles would trail by a goal after a late first-period goal from sophomore forward Keaton Richards gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead, but halfway through the second, it was junior forward Parker Norling getting the equalizer with the help of sophomore forward Holden Beckett and sophomore defenseman Matthew Pacheco. Pacheco would finish the game with two assists, making it the first time in his career that he had a multi-assist game for Post, as he would also help out on the fourth goal of the day.

The lone power play goal of the day for Saint Anselm came at the end of the second period off the stick of freshman forward Isac Martins, giving the Hawks what would end up being their last lead in the game before the third-period onslaught by the Eagle offense to the tune of four unanswered goals to storm back for the win. It all started with sophomore defensemen Eoin Reager's seventh goal of the season on the power play to start the frame, tying him for the team lead in goals with seven and points with 13 alongside senior forward Jacob Howell.

Only 1:01 after Reager's game-tying goal, Santoro gave Post their first lead of the day with his first goal of the third, coming from freshman forward Cayden Sweitzer and sophomore forward Scotty Swain. The assist for Swietzer was the second of his career, and for Swain, it was his first of two in the period, giving him his first multi-assist game. Completing the span of four goals in under eight minutes, sophomore forward Bradley McMains netted his second goal in as many games while Santoro recorded his second to polish off what would be a 5-2 win for the Eagles.

In net, senior goalie Benjamin Cunneen came up with 24 saves, needing to make just four stops in the third period, while junior goalie PJ Benites made 31 stops in the game, allowing five goals in the process.

BY THE NUMBERS 

• Joe Santoro finished with two third-period goals to finish with his first multi-goal game of the season and his first since February 7th, 2025, when he scored two goals in a 2-1 win on the road against Assumption University 
• Both Matthew Pacheco and Scotty Swain finished with two assists in the win for Post University, marking the first time for both of them in their careers that they have had multiple assists in one game 
• Winning his eighth game of the season in net, making 24 saves, and the 21st of his career, Benjamin Cunneen continues to build his edge for the most wins by a Post University goaltender in program history after surpassing the record of 17 wins set by Brandon Brown (2017-22)
• Post University secured the fourth seed in the NE10 Tournament with the win plus a Franklin Pierce University loss to Assumption University, giving the Eagles a home playoff game in the NE10 Tournament for only the second time in program history -- The first time came during their 2021-22 run to the NE10 Championship Game after they took on Saint Michael's College at home in the first round, winning 3-1. 

 
WHO'S NEXT 
Post University closes the regular season on the road against Saint Anselm College tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 PM.