SETTER DEFENSE RECORDS FIVE INTERCEPTIONS IN SEASON OPENING WIN
PACE SHUTS OUT ASSUMPTION IN SECOND HALF TO KEY 27-20 VICTORY 

PLEASANTVILLE, NY- The Setter defense opened the 2008 season in rousing fashion, posting five interceptions on the day with sophomore linebacker Max Katzner's (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) third quarter interception for a touchdown, proving to the be difference in the game as Pace defeated Assumption College 27-20. The Setters open up at 1-0 on the season, while the Greyhounds drop to 0-2 in 2008.

Assumption got on the board first as the Setters fumbled the opening kickoff, giving the Greyhounds the ball at Pace's 28-yard line. Assumption took advance of the miscue as four plays later, Herbert Woodard (Salem, NJ) scored from two yards out for a 7-0 Greyhound lead. The Setters wasted no time in responding as Eric Ortega (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) took the ensuing kickoff 84 yards for a game-tying touchdown.

The Greyhounds would rally with a 18-play, 72-yard drive from the latter part of the first quarter into the second, capping the drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Andre Kupec (Wyckoff, NJ) to Dominique Price (Worcester, MA). The Setters would block the extra point and trail 13-7 with 6:51 left in the first half. On the next Assumption possession, Jesus Cardona (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) would pick off Kupec at the Assumption 25 returning it 17 yards to the Greyhound eight-yard line, setting up freshman Riedrick Alceus (Haverstraw, NY/Hudson Valley) (Haverstraw, NY/Hudson Valley) for an 8-yard score to put the Setters up 14-13. Assumption would retake the lead as Kupec would hit Woodard for a screen pass, taking it 74 yards for a 20-14 Greyhound lead at halftime.

On the first possession of the second half, Cardona would block the Greyhound punt attempt, with Taylor McGinnis (Monroe, NY/Washingtonville) (Monroe, NY/Washingtonville) recovering the ball at the Assumption 22. Quarterback Ray Gregg (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland) (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland) would hit tight end Andre Kulak (Wolcott, CT/Wolcott) for a 13-yard pass play and two plays later Gregg would scamper in from five yards out, putting Pace back in the lead at 21-20. Later in the quarter, Katzner's would pick off Kupec, returning it 24 yards for the touchdown, giving the Setters a 27-20 lead with 59 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Setters dominated time of possession in the fourth quarter, holding the ball for over 11 minutes, including a 10-play drive over a five minute stretch. Assumption would have one last possession with 1:38 left in the game but the Setters defense stood tall, stopping the Greyhounds on four plays, securing the season opening victory.

For the Setters, Alceus had a solid collegiate debut, posting 86 rushing yards on 22 carries and one touchdown. Gregg finished with 73 yards in the air on 10-for-16 passing, while also rushing for one touchdown. Defensively, Pace was led by Pat Finnegan (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan), who posted nine tackles and one sack, while Jon Jones (Dover, NH/Bridgeton Academy) totaled eight.

For Assumption, Kupec tossed for 222 passing yards, completing 20-of-30 passes with two touchdowns and four interceptions. Woodard combined for 179 all-purpose yards with 54 coming on the ground, 96 yards receiving and 29 yards on punt returns. Dustin Zitzman (Pinellas Park, FL) led the Greyhound defense with nine tackles and one sack.

The Setters return to action next Saturday, September 13 as they will open up their conference schedule when they will host Stonehill College at noon.