GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – The sixth-ranked LIU Post men's soccer team garnered its first win of the 2018 season with a convincing 3-0 shutout against American International College at the Adelphi Alumni Tournament Sept. 1.
 
The win marked the first victory for head coach Michael Mordocco after taking over the program earlier this year. The Pioneers improve to 1-1 on the season, while the Yellow Jackets fall to the same mark.
 
The shot advantage belonged to LIU Post throughout much of the contest, as the Pioneers outshot American International 18-13 despite garnering just three corners compared to seven for the Yellow Jackets.
 
Senior goalkeeper Oliver Hessner Hansen made five saves to earn the shutout victory.
 
It took less than five minutes for the Green and Gold to earn its first opportunity on goal when freshman Anton Ocampo fired a shot high. The opening chance set the tone for the match, as the Pioneers compiled five more shots during the next 22 minutes. During the flurry, Yellow Jacket goalkeeper Ioannis Iatroudis made two saves and was helped by a defensive save on an opportunity by senior Vittorio Argeri during the 12th minute.
 
Argeri earned his redemption during the 35th minute of play when he dribbled past Iatroudis and deposited a shot in the lower left corner of the frame for his first goal of the season and the only tally of the first half for either squad. American International had an opportunity to answer moments later but a shot by Felipe Nivelini hit the post and stayed out as the score remained 1-0 in favor of the Pioneers at the end of the half.
 
It took just 70 seconds for the lead to expand for LIU Post when Ocampo and Argeri teamed up to find graduate student Lukas Ostermann who headed home his second tally of the young season. During the 53rd minute, sophomore Tom Stenberg was turned aside on a shot attempt which led to another opportunity for Ostermann on the rebound, but his attempt sailed wide to keep the hopes alive for American International.
 
Those hopes were put to rest during the 65th minute when freshman Atha Coutroumpas ripped a shot from the left side of the box for his first career goal off a feed from Ostermann to lift the Green and Gold to its first win of 2018.
 
Senior Neil Feminella made his return to the pitch during the contest and was nearly rewarded on multiple occasions in the second half with his first goal of his career, but the Yellow Jacket defense did just enough to keep his shot attempts at bay. The Pioneer back line took care of the rest, limiting American International to just three shots on target during the final 45 minutes.
 
The Pioneers return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 5 when they take on Franklin Pierce University at Knights Field on the campus of the University of Bridgeport at 4:00 p.m.