On Saturday, Nov. 22, two sensational seasons came to an end for LIU Post. The football team had its best season in more than a decade, advancing to the Division II Championship before losing to Virginia State, and the men’s soccer squad, which made it to the NCAA Quarterfinals, losing to Charleston College, 1-0.
The football team finished the year 8-4 and outscored their opponents by more than a touchdown for the entire season. The Pioneers dominated the football, running more than 200 more offensive plays than their opponents — leading to more points and victories on the playing field.
LIU Post senior quarterback Steven Laurino, a Manhasset native, completed 60 percent of his passes for 3,500 yards and 29 touchdowns. On the ground, he led the Pioneers in rushing with 609 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Sophomore tailback Mike Williams rushed for more than 600 yards and three touchdowns, while Laurino found a total of seven different players for touchdowns this season. Senior wideout Kamron Palmer hauled in 10 scores and right behind him was sophomore receiver Shane Hubbard, who lassoed nine touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior linebacker Anthony Brunetti led the team with 62 tackles and four interceptions. The defensive line was powered by senior lineman David Sumter, who amassed team-leading 9.5 sacks with 15 tackles for a loss over the season.
The LIU Post men’s soccer team finished the season 16-5-2 after a loss in the NCAA D-II National Championship Quarterfinals and, during one stretch, rolled off 10 straight wins.
Senior captain Eivind Austboe scored a team high of 17 goals, and totaled 38 points and the Pioneers had timely contributions from multiple players throughout the year.
Graduate forward Dale McDonald scored nine goals, while junior midfielder Per Forgaard netted eight. Forgaard also led the team in assists with nine. Freshman forward Jason Lampkin provided the energy the team needed, and was clutch down the stretch of games, as he scored six goals on the season, two of which went for game winners.
Junior goalkeeper Jesper Malmstrom went 15-4-2 on the season, marking a close to 80 percent saving rate on all shots on goal. He pitched eight shutouts on the season.
This article was originally published in the Pioneer, the award-winning student newspaper of LIU Post, www.liupostpioneer.com, and is republished here by Blank Slate Media with the permission of the Pioneer.
