PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y.- Matt Mirabito (Binghamton, NY/Broome CC) (Binghamton, NY/Broome CC) finished with five points as the Setters fell to #6 Merrimack College 16-9 in Northeast-10 Conference action. Pace falls to 5-8 overall and 3-6 in the NE-10, while the Warriors improve to 11-2 and 7-2 in conference play.
Merrimack had a strong first quarter as they opened up a 7-0 lead. The Setters got on the board in the final seconds as Taylor Belviso (Malverne, NY/St. Mary's) (Malverne, NY/St. Mary's) assisted on a fast break goal by Mirabito with four seconds on the clock. The Setters netted a man-up goal early in the fourth quarter as Mirabito assisted on a Kevin Kadlick (Boston, MA/Catholic Memorial) (Boston, MA/Catholic Memorial) goal. The Warriors scored the next two goals, one on a man-up opportunity but the Setters closed the half strong with a pair of goals. Thomas Earl (North Babylon, NY/St. Anthony's) (North Babylon, NY/St. Anthony's) and Matt Gebhardt (West Islip, NY/West Islip) (West Islip, NY/West Islip) each scored a goal in the final four minutes to pull Pace to within 9-4 at halftime.
Merrimack extended their lead to 10-4 early in the third quarter but the Setters rallied with five of the next seven goals as Mirabito scored twice and assisted on another. Kadlick netted his second goal of the day, while John Kolesar (Warwick, NY/Warwick) (Warwick, NY/Warwick) and Tom Murphy (Yonkers, NY/Hastings) (Yonkers, NY/Hastings) also tallied scored to pull the Setters to within three goals at 12-9 early in the fourth quarter. The Warriors pulled away late with four goals in the final ten minutes of play to take the win.
For Pace, Mirabito's five points (three goals, two assists) led the Setters, while Kadlick finished with a pair of goals. Kolesar totaled three points on a goal and a pair of assists. In net, Kevin Grady (Medford, NY/Bellport) recorded 18 saves in 60 minutes of action in goal for the Setters.
Pace returns to action on Wednesday, April 25 when the Setters will host Mercy College in a non-conference match-up at Pace Field at 3 pm for their final home game of the season.
