WATERBURY, Conn. – After leading for a majority of the second half in Saturday's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament First Round matchup against Holy Family University at home, Post University Men's Lacrosse lost in heartbreaking fashion, 18-17, in overtime to the Tigers, as two goals inside of two minutes to go in regulation and the game-winning gaol by sophomore attacker Noah Simpson with 17 seconds left in overtime, completed the stunning come-from-behind win. 

THE BASICS

Post University 17, Holy Family University 18 (OT)

Post University (9-7)

Holy Family University (8-6)

HOW IT HAPPENED
In one of his best games as an Eagle, sophomore midfielder Charlie Foster came one ground ball away from tying the all-time single-game record set by Jaxon Holden against Caldwell University on April 24th, 2024, with 16 ground balls, while going 18-for-33 in the faceoff dot on a day where Post as a team snagged 20-of-38 overall. Foster also scored his first two collegiate goals directly off of faceoff wins, helping give Post a two-goal lead in both the first and fourth quarters when they occurred.

For a majority of the first half, it would be a back-and-forth game between the two sides as neither would take more than a two-goal lead on the other, leading to seven ties and three lead changes, which ended in Post taking a one-goal lead, 9-8, into the halftime break. Sophomore goalie Aiden Waller was stellar through two quarters of action, making eight saves in a game where he finished with 14 saves overall, while allowing 18 goals in over 63 minutes of action. 

The offensive attack for the Eagles was evenly spread out as seven different players found the back of the net, including freshman attacker Cameron Maunders with four goals and senior attacker Leighton Cooke with three goals and an assist, as the duo led the team with four total points. Four of the eight scorers for the Tigers finished with hat tricks, netting three goals apiece, led by sophomore attacker Jake Feeney's three goals and five assists for eight total points, followed by seven points via three goals and four assists from junior attacker James Bienia. 

After taking that 9-8 lead into the second half, the game would never be tied again until the end of regulation, as the Eagles opened up as large as a three-goal lead, 13-10, following the man-up goal from sophomore midfielder Kegan Swain at the 8:27 mark. Swain had one of his best games of the season with two goals and five assists for seven points, but the Tigers would continue to keep things within reach as the game wore on.

Down by one with 2:27 to go, Foster took matters into his own hands just six seconds later as he won the faceoff and ran the length of the field for the score once more, making it a 17-15 affair. However, a delay of game penalty issues to junior midfielder Luke Karas led to a Feeney man-up goal with 1:32 left in regulation, as Holy Family would not go away. Following a faceoff win by Swain, he would hit the post on his shot, but sophomore defender Aedan Donnelly's pushing penalty gave Post the ball back with a chance to waste time, until senior attacker Ryan Denike turned the ball over on a forced turnover by sophomore goalie Jonah Corkhill in goal.

Corkhill only appeared in 46 seconds down the stretch of the fourth, but his pivotal caused turnover would be the catalyst for the game-tying goal just moments later. On a rush to the net, Simpson located Bienia flying across the left side of the crease, hitting him in midair with the pass and scoring with 17 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime. While Waller would make a pair of big saves in overtime to keep Post alive, freshman goalie Adam Wickel, who made 17 saves, would do the same before the game-winning goal.

As time wound down in the first overtime session, junior faceoff specialist Frank Britsch forced a turnover against Maunders near midfield, which was picked up by sophomore defender Jackson Brown the other way. On the odd-man rush, Brown would hit Simpson in stride, who, with one quick pass to Simpson, sealed the three-goal run by the Tigers that punched their ticket to face top-seeded Wilmington University on the road next week, 18-17, as the Eagles' season came to an end. 

BY THE NUMBER

• Charlie Foster nearly broke the program record for most single-game ground balls, finishing with 16 for Post University, just one shy of tying the record set by Jaxon Holden against Caldwell University on April 24th, 2024 -- Foster was also 18-for-33 on faceoffs and scored two goals 
• For the tenth time this season, Aiden Waller finished with double-digit saves, making 14 saves on 32 attempts from Holy Family University, as he finished the year 6-6 in goal
• Entering the game, Post University was a perfect 3-0 in the CACC First Round, making today's loss the first time in program history they have lost in a CACC Tournament First Round game
• This is the first time in which Post University has lost to Holy Family University in the all-time series, as they were previously 3-0 entering the day, coming off a 14-13 regular-season win at home against the Tigers on April 4th

WHO'S NEXT
Post University will take on top-seeded Wilmington University for the third consecutive season in the CACC Semifinals next Wednesday on the road at 3:30 PM. While the Eagles have lost nine consecutive games against the Wildcats, their most recent matchup at home on March 14th saw them fall 10-7 after leading 4-1 at halftime.