LIU Post Pioneers Defeat Stonehill, Improve to 3-0

BROOKVILLE, New York – On an exceptionally warm September afternoon, the ninth-ranked LIU Post Pioneers returned home in style, defeating Stonehill College, 51-16.  

For the Pioneers (3-0, 2-0 NE10), this marks the second-straight season that they put up 51 points against the Skyhawks (1-2, 0-2 NE10), a team they defeated in their only meeting last year, 51-20.

Yianni Gavalas, senior quarterback and the Northeast-10 Conference Offensive Player of the Week, completed 35 of his 43 passes, accumulated 406 passing yards and connected on four touchdowns in the game. Senior Michael Richardson, of West Babylon, NY,  caught eight of Gavalas’ passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns.

“It felt great [on the win], we went into halftime not satisfied as where we wanted to be. [We] came out, stayed with the game, listened to the coaches, and we did a great job,” said Gavalas.

“I thought it was a great team win. We executed a lot of plays. There were some plays we missed out on, but overall I think it was a great team win,” Richardson (WR) mentioned.

At the end of the second quarter the Pioneers led 34-16, but sloppy performance on defense and missed scoring opportunities in the first half led head coach Bryan Collins to remind the team that the game wasn’t over.  

“We went into the locker room and said listen, we still don’t think we played a good game yet. Don’t be satisfied with that first half,” Collins said.

Refocused and newly motivated, the Pioneers dominated the second half and shut out the Skyhawks for the win.

“I think they responded very well [after the talk]. Came out, played very clean second half and took advantage of the turnovers and made the most of it. So I’m very pleased with our team effort. Especially the second half,” Collins said in reference to the locker room talk and win. “I feel great after these wins.”

“I think we are going to keep getting better,” Richardson quickly added.

The Pioneers will face a new challenge next week, as they make their first overnight trip of the season to play Bentley University. “Bentley is a talented team. It’s become a rivalry game for Post over the years. I think we have to take care of all the little things during the week and focus on Bentley,” Collins said.

The Pioneers are set to take on the Bentley Falcons at 2 P.M. next Saturday, September 23, in Waltham, Mass.