DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Freshman
Wyatt Barfoot led Pace with three goals on Saturday as the Setters fell 13-12 to #14 Mercy in their season opener.
The Mavericks (1-0) jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the opening period, but the Setters (0-1) responded with a pair of goals in the final 4:03 to play in the quarter. Barfoot netted a man-up score with 4:03 on the clock before junior
Tyler Meigel tallied his first goal of the season.
After Mercy stretched the score to 4-2 early in the second quarter, junior captain
Matthew Cossidente netted his first goal of the young season. Just 54 seconds later,
Peter Sharp put one past the keeper to knot things even at 4-4. The Mavericks added another score, but Pace responded with a pair of goals to give them their first lead of the contest. Junior midfielder
Frank Buffalino scored with 3:54 remaining in the half before Barfoot scored his second goal of the contest to put Pace on top. Following a pair of Mercy goals in the final 1:29 of play, the Setters entered halftime trailing 7-6.
Both squads added a pair in the third as goals by Sharp and
Trevor Chernoff were bookended by Maverick scores.
Pace began the final quarter with a pair of unanswered goals to pull ahead of the Mavericks by one. Freshman attacker
Anthony Gadaleta recorded a goal that was followed by another Meigel goal, his second of the game. Then, after Mercy netted two more scores, Cossidente scored his second goal of the game to tie things up with 3:42 to play. With under two minutes remaining in the contest, Barfoot netted his third goal in his first ever collegiate game to put Pace up by one with 1:54 remaining. However, the Mavericks added a pair of goals in the final 43 seconds of play to defeat Pace, 13-12.
Barfoot's three goals led the way for the Setters while Meigel and Cossidente each netted a pair of goals and an assist. Sophomore
Brandon Donnellan recorded team-highs with seven groundballs and two caused turnovers. Senior
Michael Bonitatibus played the entire game in net for the Setters and recorded 15 saves.
The Setters return to action on Wednesday, February 25 when they will host Post University on the campus of SUNY Purchase at 3 pm.
