Final Stats

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – A second half comeback came up short for the Southern Connecticut State University football team in a 24-12 defeat to LIU-Post on Saturday afternoon at Hickox Field.

The Owls dropped to 0-2 on the year, while LIU-Post improved to 2-0.

Trailing 17-6 in the third quarter, the Owls assembled a seven play, 16 yard drive that was set up after a host of SCSU players converged on Pioneers' punter Tim Sternfeld after a bad snap. John Moscatel (Lexington, Mass.) then closed the series with a two-yard touchdown run. SCSU went for two in an attempt to close within a field goal, but the try was no good.



Southern Connecticut then had a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter. The Owls moved the football to the LIU-Post 9 for a first-and-goal and advanced as far as the Pioneers' 2. However, SCSU was stopped on fourth down to turn it over on downs.

Later in the fourth, after the Owls' defense forced another LIU-Post punt, the offense had another chance with just about four minutes to go. However, a pass tipped off a receiver's hands and turned into an interception. The Pioneers then punched in a score to make it a 24-12 final.

LIU-Post opened the scoring with a 58-yard touchdown pass from Steve Laurino to Joe Botti to take a 7-0 lead after a successful PAT.

The Owls tied the game with 10:48 left before the half when Michael Johnson (Enfield, Conn.) plunged in from one yard out. The PAT was missed, though, to keep the score at 7-6.



The Pioneers then scored the final 10 points of the half to take a 17-6 lead into the break,

Brian Wilcox (Jericho, Vt.) had 12 tackles to pace the defense, while Sebron Woodley (Linden, N.J.) had 10.

The Owls return to action on Friday night for the Northeast-10 home opener against Merrimack. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Jess Dow Field.