LHU men’s soccer bows out of NCAA tournament, a special season comes to a close

RINDGE, N.H. –The Lock Haven University men’s soccer team (13-4-2) bowed out of the NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Tournament to Post University (13-5-1), 4-1, on Thursday afternoon in a first-round playoff matchup.

In a tight first half which saw only one total shot on goal from both teams, Post took the lead in the 30th minute on a beautiful driven shot by Sergio Diaz, which left Aitor Ruiz de Eguilaz (Euskadi, Spain/Koldo Mitxelena (Robert Morris)) no chance in goal. The Bald Eagles biggest chance in the first half came when Colton Swanson (Bradford, Pa./Bradford) cut inside on his left foot, but had his long range shot blocked by a Post defender.

The Bald Eagles fashioned an early chance in the opening minute of the second half, but Zane Puhala’s (Brockway, Pa./Brockway) header skipped just wide. Post extended their lead to 2-0 in the 49th minute when Sergio Sanchez’s shot bounced off the post and deflected in off a diving Ruiz de Eguilaz. With the Bald Eagles desperate for goals late in the second half, Post added a third goal in the 71st minute from Andrea Savio to give Post a 3-0 lead.

In the 83rd minute, Connor Burke (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) got on the end of a rebound from Samuel Hershey (Lancaster, Pa./McCaskey) and pushed in a goal for LHU as the Bald Eagles searched for a late comeback. Post sealed the win with a late goal from Pablo Tenorio to close out the 4-1 win.

Chase Tackett (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) and Samuel Hershey (Lancaster, Pa./McCaskey) notched the Bald Eagles two other shots on goal, all of which came in the second half as The Haven tried to mount a comeback.