AMHERST, N.Y. - A four-goal second-half outburst turned a manageable halftime deficit into an insurmountable edge as the Daemen College women's soccer team suffered a 5-0 defeat in their regular-season finale today to nationally-ranked Long Island University Post.  Daemen fell to 4-13-1 overall and 0-8-1 in the league with the loss.  The Pioneers, ranked No. 16 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division II poll, had already wrapped up the regular-season conference championship prior to taking the field today.  They upped their mark to 14-1-1 overall and kept their unblemished ECC record (8-0-1) intact.

Lauren Bellone got the guests on the board early, capitalizing on a rebound opportunity to score in the fifth minute of the contest.  Morgan Kitton's shot from the right wing was turned aside by Daemen goalkeeper Kathryn Haessner (Moravia, N.Y./Moravia).  Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the rebound caromed directly to Bellone who was unmarked with a wide open net to shoot for.

LIU Post controlled the play for the remainder of the half, but the Daemen defense was strong, limiting the high-powered Pioneers to just six total shots and four shots on goal in the period.

The second half, however, was a different story.

The Pioneers came to life after back-to-back tallies by the ECC's leading goal-scorer, Susanne Vistnes which came just over a minute apart.  Bellone found Vistnes for her 17th marker of the season at the 52:50 mark.  Shortly thereafter, the same combination hooked up again as Bellone's crossing pass to the top of the box was burried by Vistnes at the 53:55 mark.

Vistnes picked up an assist on the Pioneers' fourth goal to complete her five-point afternoon.  Her corner kick found the head of Morgan Miller at the far post in the 74th minute.

Alex Lynn added a late goal for the Pioneers to provide the final margin.

LIU Post launched 16 total shots in the second half, landing 10 on frame.

Haessner matched a season-high with nine saves for Daemen in defeat.  Her counterpart, Iceland-native Hreffie Agnarsdottir made a pair of stops to earn the shutout for the Pioneers.  Daemen got shots on goal from Cassidy Kozub (West Seneca, N.Y./Orchard Park) and Tessa Wisniewski (Rochester, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) in the second half.

The game today marked the final home contest in the career of Daemen's five graduating seniors.  Backs Meghan Diehl (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas), Rachael Banasik (Depew, N.Y./Depew), Faye-Lyne Noel (Williamsville, N.Y./Christian Central) and midfielders Lindsay Stoddard (Limestone, N.Y./Allegany-Limestone) and Juli Prentice (Dryden, N.Y./Dryden) were honored in a pre-game ceremony.  Banasik missed the game with an injury but the other four were in the starting lineup at Dimp Wagner Stadium for the final time.

Daemen looks to continue its season this week at the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Championships in Charleston, W. Va.  The third-seeded Wildcats will do battle with sixth-seeded Carlow University in the quarterfinals on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 2:30 p.m.  Daemen will be attempting to advance to the title game for the third straight season, having won the USCAA national championship in 2012 and finishing as the runner-up last season.  Look for a full tournament preview to be posted at wildcats.daemen.edu in the days preceding Thursday's game.  Daemen is a member of the USCAA to ensure its teams the opportunity at postseason play while progressing through the NCAA Division II membership process.