PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University football team moved to 3-4 on the season and 2-4 in the Northeast-10 Conference following a 35-34 defeat to Saint Anselm College in front of a sellout Homecoming crowd at Pace Stadium on Saturday.

Inside the Numbers
Junior quarterback Dan Anerella (Old Bridge, NJ/Manalapan) had his best performance of the season, completing 14-of-26 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns, with two of the scoring strikes going for more than 40 yards. Anerella was named Homecoming MVP for his play in the pocket.

NE10 leading rusher, Jhalen Bien-Aime (Dorchester, MA/Bridgton Academy), continued his strong numbers on the season, running for 100 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. The redshirt junior also added 54 receiving yards to his docket for the day on two catches. Bien-Aime has now reached the century mark on the ground in five of the Setters' seven games.

Sophomore wide receiver Darius Jones (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) led Pace with a season-best 88 yards receiving on three catches, including a 37-yard touchdown catch. On the defensive side, senior lineman Dan Pelish (Poughquag, NY/Arlington) led the Setters in tackles for the second consecutive game, recording 10 for the day.

How it Happened
Pace jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the second quarter courtesy of a pair of touchdown passes from Anerella. The junior quarterback connected with freshman wideout Daryl Nixon (Syracuse, NY/Liverpool) for a 40-yard touchdown as the first quarter came to a close, and then found sophomore Jared Bolden (Windsor, CT/Kingswood Oxford) for a 46-yard score in the second quarter. It was Bolden's first reception of the season.

The Hawks were able to get on the board before the half with a touchdown of their own, but the Blue and Gold blocked the the point-after attempt to head to halftime with a 14-6 lead.

Pace was unable to move the ball to start the second half, and Saint Anselm capitalized by scoring a quick touchdown and two-point conversion to draw even at 14-14. The Hawks found the endzone again on their ensuing possession, but the Setters responded with a 62-yard drive capped off with a 1-yard run by Bien-Aime to push the score to 21-21.

The two teams traded touchdowns again to open up the fourth, with Bien-Aime finding the endzone for Pace with a 38-yard run. Saint Anselm marched down the field again to go up 35-28 with six-and-a-half minutes left in regulation. While the Setters were unable to respond on their ensuing possession, the Blue and Gold defense came up big to force a three-and-out and get the ball back for the offense with a little over three minutes to play.

Anerella was able to lead the Setters' offense down the field, capped off with a 37-yard touchdown strike to Jones to pull within one. A penalty on the score pushed the point after attempt back to 15 yards, and the attempt was no good. Pace was able to secure one final opportunity after recovering the following onside-kick attempt, but the Saint Anselm defense forced a turnover on downs and ran out the clock to win, 35-34.

Up Next
The Setters play their final home game of the season next Saturday when they host LIU Post. It will be Senior Day at Pace Stadium with a noon kickoff.