WESTFIELD, Mass.  – Joseph McLeod (Kelowna, B.C.) made 51 saves as Post University defeated Westfield State University 5-4 in non-conference action late Thursday night at Amelia Park Ice Arena.

In a penalty-filled first period, Post University netted the only goal on a shot from sophomore Kieran Hurley (Long Beach, N.Y.) to put the Eagles up 1-0.

That was all she wrote for period one, but the goal scoring would pick up in the second period. Halfway through the frame, Evan Lugo (Sandy Hook, Conn.) put a shot past Owls goaltender Kameron Limburg (Howel, Mich.) after a nice feed from Noah Wild (Wading River, N.Y.) to make it 2-0 Post.

Nearly five minutes later, the Owls would strike for their first tally of the night when Daniel Backstrom (Helsinki, Finland) would slam home a rebound for the power-play goal to make it 2-1.

But right after the Westfield goal, Post would pot a power-play goal of their own three minutes later, this time coming from the stick of Anthony Giacomin (Drexel Hill, Penn.) to make it 3-1 Eagles with three seconds to play in the second.

In the third, Aaron Clancy (Quincy, Mass.) would poke home his first goal of the season to cut the lead to 3-2. But the trend continued for Post, as they would answer back with a breakaway goal from Noah Wild and a rebound one-timer from Christopher Harris (Barnstable, Mass.) to make it 5-2 Post.

But the Owls did not go quietly. Junior Rob Neuwirth (Zlin, Czech Republic) would send a wrister home from the slot to cut the lead to 5-3 with just over ten minutes away. And then, with Limburg pulled, Clancy would slam home another goal to cut the lead to just one with under a minute remaining.

After a flurry of shots and offensive zone time for Westfield State in the final minute of play, the Owls would come up short, largely due to the efforts of Joseph McLeod in the pipes for Post.

With the loss, Westfield State drops to 2-1-1, while Post University improves to 2-1-0.

McLeod put an outstanding effort in for the Eagles as he saved 51 of the Owls 55 shots on goal. Meanwhile for the Owls, Limburg ended up with 21 saves on 26 shots.

Westfield State continues the home stand as they host conference rival Framingham State University on Saturday with puck drop scheduled for 5:35 p.m.

Post resumes play on November 16, as they host Saint Anselm College with a 7:00 p.m. start.