Firebirds’ Comeback Falls Short at LIU Post in 2-1 Loss

BROOKVILLE, NY – Junior Elio Hernandez scored in the 75^th minute of regulation to pull the Firebirds within a goal of tying two-time defending champion LIU Post, but UDC could not score the equalizer in the remaining 15 minutes and suffered a 2-1 loss in an exciting East Coast Conference contest at Pioneer Soccer Park Wednesday afternoon.

UDC, which entered the week ranked No. 5 in the NSCAA East Region poll, fell to 5-3-1 overall and 2-1 in the ECC with the loss. LIU Post, the preseason favorite to three-peat as league champions and No. 10 ranked team in the East Region, ended a two-game winless streak and improved to 5-3-1 as well, and 2-1-1 in the ECC.

The Pioneers out-shot UDC 11-6 and scored both their goals in the first half. First, Per Forgaard stole the ball from a Firebird defender and crossed to Dale McDonald, who beat UDC junior goalkeeper Louis Connor (Elementary Education – Birmingham, England/Arthur Terry School) high middle for the game's opening goal just six minutes in.

Harry Pearse added LIU Post's insurance goal just minutes before halftime. Eivind Austboe, the ECC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, passed to Pearse, who's low shot deflected off of Connor and into the net for what proved to be the game-winner.

UDC fired 10 shots in the second half, four of which were on goal, including Hernandez's goal in the 75^th minute. The Pioneers, having surrendered two second-half goals in a 2-2 tie vs. the Firebirds in Washington, DC last year, stayed on the attack for much of the second half, taking 11 shots and putting six on goal.

Connor stopped all six shots on goal in the second half as UDC attempted to come from tw goals behind a second straight year. He finished with a season high-tying eight saves.

Sophomore forward Felix Angerer and sophomore midfielder Nenad Smiljanic were the most active Firebirds offensively. Each took four shots, including two shots on goal apiece. Angerer was credited with an assist UDC's lone goal, as he took the initial shot that was rebounded by Hernandez. He currently ranks 3rd in the ECC in points scored with 13.

After four straight road games, UDC returns home on Saturday to host ECC foe Bridgeport at Long Bridge Park in Arlington, VA. Game time is 2 p.m.