BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – No. 1 C.W. Post scored two goals in the final 3:54 as the Pioneers escaped with a 6-3 win over No. 8 Bentley University in non-conference men's lacrosse Saturday afternoon.

For the second straight year Bentley was step-for-step with the two-time defending national champions, but late goals by Owen Campbell and Mike Messina proved to be the difference. The Pioneers were already playing their seventh game of the season and remain unbeaten, while this was Bentley's opener.

The Falcons were within 4-3 with 6:54 remaining in the game after freshman Nick Astarita (Bedford, N.H./Bishop Guertin) scored his first career goal with junior Brendan Grant (Walpole, Mass./Xaverian Brothers) on the assist.

But the Pioneers finished strong, as Campbell netted a goal with 3:54 left and Messina scored with 1:44 remaining to provide the final margin.

Bentley drew first blood, as sophomore Dan Keefer (Wayland, Mass./Wayland) scored with 7:49 left in the first quarter. C.W. Post finished the quarter strong though, as Messina and Jimmy Johnston scored to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.

They carried that momentum into the second quarter, going up 3-1 on Nick Coric's goal less than three minutes in. Junior J.D. Ayer (Rochester, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit) got one back for Bentley with a man-up goal less than four minutes later, before Johnston scored again to make it 4-2 at halftime.

Senior goalie Mike O'Neil (Marblehead, Mass./Marblehead), making his first career start for the Falcons, made 13 saves.

The Falcons are back in action on March 23 when they play their home-opener against New York Tech.

Box Score

At Brookville, N.Y.

Bentley (0-1)                      1   1   0   1   --   3

C.W. Post (7-0)                  2   2   0   2   --   6

Goals: CWP, Mike Messina 2, Jimmy Johnston 2, Nick Coric 1, Owen Campbell 1; B, Dan Keefer 1, Nick Astarita 1, J.D. Ayer 1

Assists: CWP, Coric 1, Eddie Plompen 1, Keith Rodriguez 1

Shots: CWP, 31; B, 18

Saves: CWP, Mike Giordano 4; B, Mike O'Neil 13

Face-offs: CWP, 8-10; B, 2-10

Ground Balls: CWP, 25; B, 16

Extra-man Opps: CWP, 0-2; B, 1-5