SETTERS FALL TO SALISBURY IN SEASON OPENER

SALISBURY, Md. - The Setters dropped their opening game of the 2009 season in a 34-14 loss to the Sea Gulls of Salisbury University in non-conference action. Pace opens their season at 0-1, while Salisbury improves to 1-0.

The afternoon got off to promising start for the Setters as they would take the opening drive 80 yards on six plays capped off by a 10-yard touchdown run by Kyle Curran (Shaftsbury, VT/Worcester Academy) (Shaftsbury, VT/Worcester Academy). Setter quarterback Ray Gregg (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland) led the Pace down the field, going 4-for-5, including connecting on a pair of first down completion to tight end Andre Kulak (Wolcott, CT/Wolcott). Gregg hit Kulak for a 31 yard pass place on a third down and 12 play, while connecting with Kulak again for a 27-yard play on a first and 25 situation. Gregg would connect with Eric Ortega (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) (Staten Island, NY/St.  Peter's) on a 29-yard to set up Curran's TD run.

The Sea Gulls would rally late in the opening quarter as Tommy Kowalick booted a 34-yard field goal as the Setters would lead 7-3 heading into the second quarter.

Salisbury would take the lead midway through the second quarter as quarterback Bobby Sheahin scrambled for a 17-yard touchdown run to cap a 9-play, 69-drive for the Sea Gull Kowalick would hit the post on the extra point as the Setters would trail 9-7. The Sea Gulls would add to their lead late in the second quarter as Warren Anderson scored on an 18-yard touchdown run with 1:52 remaining in the quarter.

The Setters would answer right back, capitalizing a Sea Gull miscue as Kowalick's kickoff would go out of bounds, setting up Pace at their own 40-yard-line. On the second play of the drive, Gregg hit Desmond Hinds (Stamford, CT/Stamford High/Iona College) (Stamford, CT/Stamford/Iona College) for a 48-yard strike to set up the Setter offense at the Salisbury seven-yard-line. In the next play, Nathaniel Ford (Queens, NY/Jamaica) (Queens, NY/Jamaica) would score on the ground to slice the Salisbury lead to 16-14 at the break.

In the second half, the Setter offense struggled, while Salisbury rushed for almost 150 yards over the final two quarters. The  Sea Gulls would add on a 37-yard Kowalick field goal early in the fourth quarter, while tacking on a pair of late touchdowns for the final difference in the game.

In the day, Ford led the Setters with 45 rushing yards on seven carries, while Gregg completed 12-for-21 for 193 yards in the air. Andrew Lipski (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place/Iona College) (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place/Iona College) and Tyrell Zimmerman (Waterbury, CT/Wilby HS/Northwestern St.) (Waterbury, CT/Wilby/Northeastern St.) led the Pace defense with nine total tackles each. Zimmerman also registered a sack and also forced a fumble. Marvin Taylor (Newtown, CT/UConn) (Newtown, CT/UConn) and Ricky McCollum (Newburgh, NY/UConn) (Newburgh, NY/UConn) each  posted seven tackles on the day.

Pace returns to action on Friday, September 11 when the Setters will travel to New Haven, CT for a Northeast-10 Conference battle with the Owls of Southern Connecticut at 7 pm.