Cerar Vaults C.W. Post into NCAA Title Game
from press release
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. -- Senior attacker Greg Cerar (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) registered a game-high six points as No. 2 C.W. Post defeated No. 6 Limestone College, 12-9, in a NCAA Division II men's lacrosse semifinal Saturday afternoon on Hickox Field.
The Pioneers will advance to face Le Moyne College for the national championship at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., on May 24.
C.W. Post improves to 14-1 overall and will play in its first national title game since 2000. Limestone ends its season at 10-4 overall.
C.W. Post completed the game outshooting the Saints, 54-37, and held a 34-24 advantage in ground balls.
The Pioneers took a 2-0 lead in the opening minutes of the first quarter, first with a man-up goal from senior attacker Matt Dimler (Long Valley, N.J.) on a feed from junior midfielder Mike Cama (Levittown, N.Y.) at 12:32. Sophomore midfielder Mike Messina (Sayville, N.Y.) scored his first of two goals in the game at 9:54.Limestone broke up the momentum and scored its first goal seconds later from senior attacker Brendan Storrier (Lafayette, N.Y.) at 9:09.
The Pioneers countered with a goal from senior attacker Dave Loftus (Merrick, N.Y.) to push the Pioneers' lead to 3-1.
Limestone continued to pressure the Pioneer defense and fired off three unanswered goals to claim a 4-3 lead with 3:35 left to play in the quarter. C.W. Post tied the game at 2:37 when senior goalkeeper Daniel Sciulla (Merrick, N.Y.) fired a long shot down the field to junior midfielder Joe Meo (West Sayville, N.Y.), who ran in for the goal.In the second quarter, sophomore attacker Nick Coric (Walnut Creek, Calif.) scored his 22nd goal of the season on a pass from Cerar that reclaimed the lead for C.W. Post.
The Pioneers scored four more goals from sophomore midfielder James Johnston (Farmingville, N.Y.), Messina, Loftus and Coric to build their lead to 9-4 with 9:49 left to play in the third quarter.
Limestone scored its only goal in the third quarter when junior attacker Jake Rogalia (Liverpool, N.Y.) fired a shot into the cage to cut the lead down to 9-5.The Saints pressed hard offensively in the fourth quarter and made up ground with three unanswered goals from junior midfielder Mike Poerstel (Annapolis, Md.) as well as Storrier and Rogalia to trail 10-8 with 3:04 left to play.
Cerar scored two unassisted goals that proved pivotal in the final minutes of the game as they helped the Pioneers break away with a 12-8 lead with 1:30 left to play.
Limestone attacker Thomas Langan (Potomac, Md.) scored the game's final goal with 1:02 left to play.
Coric finished the game with a hat trick while Loftus and Messina each score a pair of goals. Sciulla made 13 stops in goal to preserve the win for C.W. Post.Storrier registered five points on three goals and two assists and Rogalia added two goals for Limestone. Senior goalkeeper James Tuohy (Levittown, N.Y.) made a game-high 17 saves in goal.
