2017-18 YEAR IN REVIEW

WINNERS OF Six-STRAIGHT ECC COMMISSIONER’S CUP four CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS 12 NCAA TOURNAMENT TEAMS 16 PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

#PIONEERNATION 2017-18 HIGHLIGHTS

Team individual ECC Championships ECC player of the year Men’s Soccer Stefan Adams (Men’s Outdoor Track & Field) Abbey Fortin (Softball) Softball Talya Williams (Women’s Cross Country) Women’s Lacrosse Rachel Londot (Women’s Volleyball) NE-10 Championships NE-10 player of the year Yianni Gavalas (Football-Offensive) Field Hockey Joseph Lacey (Football-Offensive Lineman) Nationally-ranked teams metropolitan swimmer of the meet Field Hockey Karis Fuller Men’s Lacrosse ECC rookie of the year Men’s Soccer William Snelders (Men’s Lacrosse) Women’s Lacrosse Lukas Ostermann (Men’s Soccer) Women’s Soccer Breanna Klaiber (Softball) Softball ECC position awards Women’s Swimming James Varela (Baseball-Pitcher) Olivia Kirk (Goalkeeper, Women’s Lacrosse) Ncaa championship appearances Johan Mauritzson (Men’s Soccer - Defensive) Oliver Hessner Hansen (Men’s Soccer - Goalkeeper) Women’s Basketball Kristen Breihof (Women’s Soccer-Defensive) Women’s Cross Country Hillevi Eklow (Women’s Soccer-Goalkeeper) Women’s Fencing Katie Humhej (Softball-Pitcher) Field Hockey ECC scholar-athlete of the year Women’s Lacrosse Dave Brehm (Baseball) Men’s Soccer Rachel Londot (Volleyball) Women’s Soccer Hillevi Eklow (Women’s Soccer) Softball Talya Williams (Women’s Cross Country) Women’s Swimming coach of the year Men’s Track & Field Deirdre Moore (Women’s Basketball) Women’s Volleyball Meghan McNamara (Women’s Lacrosse) Wrestling Andreas Lindberg (Men’s Soccer) Mark Dawson (Women’s Soccer) Jamie Apicella (Softball) @liupostpioneers 2017-18 accomplishments

Conf. Conf. Team Coach Record Accomplishments of Note Record Finish

Baseball Mike Gaffney 29-20 16-8 3rd James Varela - ECC Pitcher of the Year, All-American

Men’s Basketball Erik Smiles 11-18 9-9 4th ECC Tournament Berth - Jared Rivers All-Met

Women’s Basketball Deirdre Moore 22-8 17-1 1st ECC Regular Season Champion, NCAA Appearance

Women’s Bowling Ed Raven -- -- 10th Second-Place Finish at the Westchester C.C. Invitational

M. Cross Country Kevin Buckley -- -- 6th Erick Rivera - 35th overall at ECC Championship

W. Cross Country Kevin Buckley -- -- 5th Talya Williams - ECC Runner of the Year

Equestrian Brooke Chasin ------Tied for Second-Place Finish at Zone Finals

Fencing Mike Corona 11-16 -- -- Increased total victories by nine since 2016-17

Field Hockey Raenee Savin 19-4 9-3 3rd NE-10 Champions, NCAA National Runner-Up

Football 8-2 7-2 1st Joseph Lacey Named AFCA All-American

Golf Mike Zguris ------Shot a season-low 346 at the ESU Invitational

M. Indoor Track Kevin Buckley -- -- 4th Two Individual Winners at ECC Champ, Six All-ECC Selections

W. Indoor Track Kevin Buckley -- -- 3rd Four Individual Winners at ECC Champ, Eight All-ECC Selections

Men’s Lacrosse Eric Wolf 10-5 5-1 2nd William Snelders Named ECC Rookie of the Year

Women’s Lacrosse Meghan McNamara 14-6 8-0 1st ECC Champions, NCAA Tournament Appearance

M. Outdoor Track Kevin Buckley -- -- 3rd Five total victories at ECC Champ, 10 All-ECC Selections

W. Outdoor Track Kevin Buckley -- -- 3rd Seven total victories at ECC Champ, 11 All-ECC Selections

Women’s Rugby John Royal 1-5-1 -- -- Defeated Castleton 15-12 for First Victory

Men’s Soccer Andreas Lindberg 18-1-2 8-0-1 1st ECC Champions, NCAA Quarterfinal Appearance

Women’s Soccer Mark Dawson 17-4-1 7-2 1st ECC Runner-Up, NCAA Tournament Appearance

Softball Jamie Apicella 38-19 19-5 1st ECC Champions, NCAA Super Regional Appearance

Swimming Kristen Foley 7-1 -- 2nd Karis Fuller - Met Swimmer of the Meet

Tennis Walter Giacometti 8-5 6-1 2nd Lara Scholtze - All-ECC First Team

Volleyball Amanda Ostapow 28-6 12-2 2nd NCAA Tournament Appearance, Rachel Londot POY

Wrestling Joe Patrovich 6-10 -- -- Joe Calderone - NCAA All-American

@liupostpioneers 2018 highlights

Miller’s Hat Trick Sends Top-Seeded Field Hockey to National Title Game LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Behind a three-goal effort by leading scorer Emily Miller, the top-seeded LIU Post field hockey team defeated the fifth-seeded Millersville Marauders, 3-0, to advance to the NCAA Division II Championship Final for the fourth time in five years.

The Pioneers (19-3) advance to the championship game for the second-straight year where they will meet Shippensburg University in a rematch of the 2016 title game.

Miller opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when Sammy Bell delivered a pass from the left end line and Miller finished in the back of the cage. The junior later scored her 39th goal of the season in the 51st minute to give LIU Post a 2-0 lead when she pounced on a redirected shot by Arantxa Rosainz Caloca.

Continuing to pressure the Marauders defense, the Pioneers went up 3-0 two minutes later with Miller’s sixth hat- trick of the year that came via a rebounded shot from Kaycee Zelkovsky.

Freshman goalkeeper Rachel Vellis made three saves in the match to earn the win and post her seventh shutout of the season. On the opposite end, Millersville goalkeeper Kylee Bair made seven stops for the Marauders.

@liupostpioneers 2018 highlights

Men’s Soccer Earns Third-Straight ECC Championship With Shutout OF UDC BROOKVILLE, N.Y. - Behind a three-point effort by leading scorer Lukas Ostermann, the top-seeded LIU Post men’s soccer team defeated the third-seeded University of the District of Columbia to capture the program’s third- consecutive Championship at the Pioneer Soccer Park November 3.

The Pioneers (16-0-2, 8-0-1 ECC) earn the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Championship with the win, advancing to the national tournament for the seventh-consecutive season.

Ostermann opened the scoring in the 12th minute when he headed in a cross from Nico Anderson for his 16th goal of the season. Anderson would later score a goal of his own in the 29th minute to give LIU Post a 2-0 lead when he wired a shot inside the far post from the right-wing.

Vittorio Argeri capped off the scoring in the first half when he pounced on a rebound from an Ostermann shot and finished into an open net for the 3-0 advantage at the intermission.

The Firebirds outshot LIU Post 8-4 in the second half, but the Pioneer defensive unit led by conference Defensive Player of the Year Johan Mauritzson stood tall to limit the scoring opportunities for UDC. LIU Post keeper Oliver Hessner Hansen made seven saves in the match and posted his seventh shutout of the season.

@liupostpioneers 2018 highlights

Champs! Softball Claims First East Coast Conference Title Since 2014 BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The LIU Post softball team came back in game two to capture their first East Coast Conference title since 2014, defeating No. 3 seed 4-1 at the LIU Post Softball Complex May 5.

Sophomore Abbey Fortin was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, finishing 3-for-4 at the plate with a solo home run and two runs scored. Freshman Breanna Klaiber added two runs batted to lead the Pioneers to the title. Junior Hannah Olshevski went the distance in the circle in the decisive game, allowing just one run on four hits.

The Pioneers broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning when Fortin launched her second home run of the day into the bleachers in left field to give LIU Post a 1-0 lead. The Green and Gold tacked on one more run in the frame when sophomore Megan Sneeden singled home senior Jaclyn Hahn to make it 2-0.

An inning later, the Pioneers doubled their advantage thanks to a one-out double by Klaiber into the right-center field gap to drive in two runs. The Lions got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, scoring their only run of the day on a two-out single, but Olshevski stranded the bases loaded to end the inning. The junior pitcher worked out of another bases-loaded jam in the sixth and retired the side in order to end the contest, giving the Pioneers the conference crown.

@liupostpioneers 2018 highlights

Four-Peat! Women’s Lax Defends ECC Title With 17-11 Win Over Mercy OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – The No. 1 overall seed LIU Post women’s lacrosse team downed No. 2 seed , 17-11, capturing its fourth consecutive East Coast Conference title Saturday, May 5 at President’s Stadium on the campus of the New York Institute of Technology. Sophomore Brianna Feldman was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, recording a career-high seven goals and adding an assist for eight points in the championship. Classmate Alyssa Mallery added six goals and fellow sophomore Paige Sherlock recorded the final multi-goal game with two tallies. Between the pipes, senior Olivia Kirk made 12 saves to earn the win.

As a team, LIU Post scored on 17 of its 25 shots on goal and converted on six of its eight free-position shot attempts. The Mavericks held a slight 32-29 edge in shot attempts but were unable to capitalize on any of its four free-position shots.

The Green and Gold got out to a hot start in Saturday’s championship, scoring the game’s first six goals to build a substantial lead in the first few minutes. Feldman scored four of her seven goals during the stretch with Mallery adding the other two to help LIU Post take a six-goal lead during the first 14 minutes. Hunter Isnardi put the Mavericks on the scoreboard with a goal just past the midway point of the opening half and the Mavericks eventually cut the deficit to four goals at 8-4 with 6:36 remaining in the period. Sophomore Sara Stephens scored a man-up goal and junior Trish Brisotti added a man-down goal moments later to help the Pioneers build an 11-4 lead at the half.

Feldman found the back of the net less than two minutes into the second stanza to put LIU Post ahead by seven goals, but the Mavericks put a run together over the next 17 minutes, making it 13-10. The Pioneers righted the ship, however, as Feldman and Mallery combined to score four unanswered goals to extend the lead back to seven goals at 17-10. Isnardi tallied a final goal with nine seconds remaining, but it was too late as the Green and Gold repeated as the conference champions for the fourth consecutive season. @liupostpioneers 2017-18 ecc awards

wins SIXTH CONSECUTIVE ECC COMMISSIONER’S CUP The East Coast Conference honored the LIU Post Pioneers as the recipients of the conference Commissioner’s Cup for the sixth consecutive year as announced at the league’s annual awards dinner June 4.

The award, created during the 1994-95 season, awards points based on regular season and postseason finishes in each sponsored sport. The Green and Gold appeared in all 17 sponsored ECC Championships, capturing three conference titles in women’s lacrosse, men’s soccer, and softball.

Under the guidance of first-year Director of Athletics, Debbie DeJong, the Pioneers compiled 104.5 points, 17.25 points more than second-place St. Thomas Aquinas College and the most points since former member Adelphi University amassed 106.5 points during the 2008-09 season.

Stefan Adams (Men’s Track & Field) Charlie Ledula (Men’s Soccer) Laura Bendfeldt (Women’s Swimming) Alyssa Mallery (Women’s Lacrosse) Joseph Calderone (Wrestling) Johan Mauritzson (Men’s Soccer) Brianna Feldman (Women’s Lacrosse) Emily Miller (Field Hockey) Abbey Fortin (Softball) Lukas Ostermann (Men’s Soccer) Karis Fuller (Women’s Swimming) Harry Pearse (Men’s Soccer) Julie Gysels (Field Hockey) Kelsey Silver (Women’s Rugby) Olivia Kirk (Women’s Lacrosse) James Varela (Baseball) Joseph Lacey (Football) Kacey Zelkovsky (Field Hockey) @liupostpioneers 2018 athletic hall of fame

Mauritzson named united soccer coaches scholar player of the year LIU Post men’s soccer senior defender Johan Mauritzson was named United Soccer Coaches Division II National Scholar Payer of the Year.

The Halmstad, Sweden native, who boasts a 3.50 cumulative grade-point average in Business Administration, was named to the USC All-East Region First-Team earlier this season.

Maurtizson, the ECC Defensive Player of the Year, receives All-America First-Team nods for his efforts on defense. The center back captained a back-line that ranks second in the ECC with 15 goals allowed and 0.86 goals against average. Mauritzson’s performance also helped LIU Post shut out seven opponents on the season, two of which came in back-to-back victories in the East Coast Conference Championship.

LONDOT NAMED ecc FEmale scholar-athlete of the year The East Coast Conference announced LIU Post volleyball junior outside hitter Rachel Londot as the league’s Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year at the annual awards dinner June 4. A dual major in criminal justice and forensic science, Londot boasts a 3.97 cumulative grade point average and was named the ECC Player of the Year for volleyball in 2017. The junior had a breakout season for the Pioneers, leading the Green and Gold to a share of the regular season championship and a berth in the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament. Londot garnered four ECC Player of the Week honors during the season and ranked third in the conference with 390 regular-season kills and a .293 hitting percentage. Londot also ranked in the top-10 in the league in service aces (55), service aces per set (0.47), and digs (355).

@liupostpioneers 2018 student-athlete banquet

2018 athletic hall of fame class inducted The LIU Post Department of Athletics inducted its class of 2018 into the Athletics Hall of Fame April 20.

The Class of 2018 featured four individuals and one team. Dr. Tim Carr ‘69, Michael Hoses ‘72, Shannon Fabian Longo ‘07, Samantha Yodowitz Gaffney ‘08, and the 2007 National Champion women’s lacrosse team were enshrined in Pioneer history with the distinction.

Carr was a standout quarterback for the Pioneers in the late 1960s and served as a team captain during the 1968 season. Through his career, he compiled 5,150 passing yards, a mark that still stands as the fifth-most in program history. He also registered 2,574 passing yards during his senior season, a total that ranks seventh all-time at LIU Post. Coming off the impressive senior season, the Los Angeles Rams selected Carr during the 12th round of the 1969 National Football League draft.

Hoses put together a very impressive career for the Pioneers as a middle-distance runner from 1968-1972. During his time at LIU Post, Hoses earned All- American honors in the 880-yard run in 1969 and 1970 and holds multiple program records for the Pioneers. In the indoor competition, he still holds the top time in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:50.2. Although the event has since been discontinued from competition, Hoses holds the program record in outdoor competition for the 880-yard run, clocking a time of 1:50.5. Along with the individual records, Hoses is also a part of several program records in relay events, including the one-mile relay, sprint medley relay, and distance medley relay.

Longo is one of the most decorated women’s lacrosse players in program history at LIU Post. During her career, she was named an All-American three times and was a finalist for the Honda Division II Woman of the Year award in 2006. Longo can be found in the LIU Post record book multiple times, with her 193 career assists ranking second all-time, and 152 career goals rank sixth. Along with these career records, she also is listed three times in the single-season top-10 for assists.

On the national stage, Longo earned a spot on the 2007 NCAA Division II National Championship All-Tournament Team, and Sports Illustrated featured her in its “Faces in the Crowd” section while she was at LIU Post. Her achievements on the field can also be found throughout the NCAA Division II record book, as she ranks seventh all-time in career points per game (5.15), and ninth all-time in career assists. During her junior season, she claimed the Division II statistical title for points per game (6.26), assists per game (3.94), and assists (71).

Gaffney was a true all-around player for the LIU Post softball program throughout her career. As a pitcher, Gaffney holds the single-season program record for innings pitched (265.1), complete games (36), and wins (31), all of which came during her junior season in 2007. This performance in the circle helped guide the Pioneers to an appearance at the Division II College World Series, and garnered National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)/Louisville Slugger Second- Team All-American honors that season.

Her accomplishments go far beyond the circle, however, as Gaffney earned New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC) Rookie of the Year, NYCAC First Team All-Conference, and NFCA All-Northeast Region as a freshman in the outfield. During her sophomore season, she captured All-NYCAC accolades as an outfielder and was named the NYCAC Tournament Most Valuable Player. Gaffney also garnered NFCA All-Northeast Region First Team honors as a utility player during her sophomore and junior seasons. Her list of awards continued when she was named to the Daktronics All-Northeast Region Team and earned NCAA Northeast Regional Tournament Most Outstanding Player as a junior before closing out her career with NYCAC Player of the Year accolades as a senior.

For her career, Gaffney hit .329 at the plate with 58 extra-base hits, 95 runs batted in, and 20 home runs. In the circle, she compiled a 90-27 record with 792.0 innings pitched, a 1.31 earned run average and 586 strikeouts.

The 2007 women’s lacrosse team won the NCAA Division II National Championship, marking the 14th national title in program history and second for women’s lacrosse (2001). In the championship game, the top-ranked Pioneers defeated third-seeded , 15-9, capping off a perfect 17-0 season. During that stretch, the Pioneers outscored opponents 269-99.

That year the Pioneers landed five players on the Division II All-America Team, including four first-team members. Shannon Longo (Fabian), Lindsay Collins (Goldman), Katie Hogan, and Lauren Scipione all earned spots on the first-team, while Mallory Poole earned a second-team accolade. Scipione ranks eighth all-time in Division II history with 5.26 goals-against that season, while as a team the Pioneers rank 14th all-time in scoring defense for a season with the same mark.

The Pioneers’ 17-0 record stands as one of six undefeated seasons in Division II women’s lacrosse history.

@liupostpioneers 2018 STUDENT-ATHLETE BANQUET

pioneer student-athletes shine at 2018 athletic awards banquet Make a Difference Award -Women’s Lacrosse

The LIU Post women’s lacrosse team compiled 848 hours of community service this season, averaging 33 hours per student- athlete. The Pioneers volunteered at many different events, including the Ronald McDonald House, HEADstrong, and Hurricane Harvey relief.

Most Outstanding Male Athlete - Joseph Calderone (Wrestling)

Calderone earned All-American honors for the second time in his career at this year’s NCAA Division II Championships, taking fifth-place individually in the 141-pound weight class. The junior compiled a 32-9 overall record this season, including a stretch of 10 consecutive victories and nine victories by pinfall.

Most Outstanding Female Athlete - Julia Seader (Softball)

Seader was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason watch-list for National Player of the Year, and has been outstanding at the plate for the Pioneers this season. Despite moving to the lead-off position in the order midway through the season, Seader is still hitting .384 with 58 hits, 39 runs scored, 31 runs batted in and five home runs. Her .440 on- base percentage leads the team and ranks seventh in the East Coast Conference.

Male Pioneer Excellence Award - Johan Mauritzson (Men’s Soccer)

Mauritzson was named the United Soccer Coaches’ Scholar Athlete of the Year after compiling a 3.50 cumulative grade point average as a business administration major. Mauritzson captained a back line that allowed just 19 total goals this season and helped record eight shutouts.

Female Pioneer Excellence Award - Kaycee Zelkovsky (Field Hockey)

Zelkovsky was the recipient of the Northeast-10 Field Hockey Excellence award this season, compiling a 3.94 grade point average as a business major. She also earned her second scholar of distinction honor this season and helped lead the Pioneers to an appearance in the Division II National Championship game. The senior started all 23 contests for the Pioneers, scoring 14 goals and adding 13 assists.

Comeback Player of the Year Award - Mike Williams (Football)

Williams was a true warrior this fall for the Green and Gold, overcoming multiple injuries and illnesses, while remaining a leader on the field and in the locker room. Williams overcame the obstacles and made five appearances this season, recording 109 rushing yards on 27 attempts to supplement 13 receptions for 123 yards out of the backfield.

Christine Webb Award - Ramel Joseph (Football/Track & Field)

The Christine Webb Award is awarded annually to a deserving student-athlete, who displays the most Post Pride. Joseph is a two-sport athlete who is always found around campus with a smile on his face. His coaches describe him as friendly, dedicated and a leader. When he is not spending time at practice, he works tirelessly in the Pratt Recreation Center and can be found at many sporting events supporting his fellow Pioneers.

Dr. Roy Ilowit Sportsmanship Award - Talya Williams (Cross Country/Track & Field)

The Dr. Roy Ilowit Sportsmanship Award is annually bestowed upon a deserving student-athlete for their achievements in the classroom and on the field, while also representing the spirit of Dr. Ilowit with an outstanding grade-point average and a high level of character on the playing field. Williams truly epitomizes what it means to be a Pioneer at LIU Post. The senior has compiled a 3.78 grade point average and has thrived both in the classroom and in competition. She was named the East Coast Conference Runner of the Year for cross country and captured multiple individual titles at the ECC Indoor Track & Field Championships and the Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Outside of competition, Williams works as a building manager for the Pratt Recreation Center. @liupostpioneers A LETTER FROM THE AD Thank you for your continued support of LIU Post Athletics. We are very proud of the tradition of excellence set forth by our student-athletes on the playing field, in the classroom, and out in the community. The 2017-18 campaign was no exception.

Academically, our student-athletes put forth an incredible effort in the classroom, compiling a departmental cumulative grade point average of 3.28. 96 percent of our teams achieved a 3.0 or better, with 349 student-athletes earning a 3.0 or better, 194 earning a 3.5 or better, and 31 earning a perfect 4.0. Men’s soccer’s Johan Mauritzson was named the United Soccer Coaches Division II National Scholar Athlete of the Year, while volleyball’s Rachel Londot earned East Coast Conference Female Scholar Athlete of the Year recognition. Ten other Pioneers also garnered Academic All-America status during the school year.

On the field, four teams captured conference championships, while all of our conference teams competed in postseason play, with 12 teams advancing to the NCAA Championships.

In the fall, the field hockey team reached the NCAA Division II National Championship game for the fourth time in five years, while men’s soccer won the ECC Championship. This winter, women’s basketball had one of the best seasons in program history, capturing the regular season title with a 19-1 conference record and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

The spring was another huge success, as women’s lacrosse continued its winning tradition by clinching its fourth-consecutive ECC title, while the softball team also won a conference championship and advanced to the NCAA East Super Regional.

We are equally proud of our student-athletes’ eagerness to be involved in their local and national communities. Over the past year our department amassed more than 5,000 hours of community service and raised funds for numerous worthy causes.

Overall, I believe our department has shined in all facets of who we want to be as Pioneers, and I am determined to sustain this practice as we move forward. We are looking forward to the 2018-19 school year as we continue to strive for new heights, while also creating new opportunities to enhance our student-athlete experience.

Thank you again for your support of Pioneer Nation.

GO PIONEERS!

Sincerely,

Debbie DeJong Director of Athletics and Recreation LIU Post Pioneers

@liupostpioneers