NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The No. 7 Pace University men's lacrosse team shouldered its first loss of 2017 on Saturday to No. 3 Merrimack College by a score of 15-9 in Northeast-10 Conference matchup at Martone-Mejail Field.
FIRST QUARTER
- The Warriors opened the game with two by Tim Towler to give Merrimack an early lead.
- Sophomore
Joshua Kreitler (Shelton, CT/Shelton) was then assisted by sophomore
Bradley Paterson (Caldwell, NJ/Depaul Catholic) at the 10:28 mark for the Setters' first goal of the game.
- Junior
Liam Brennan (Huntington Station, NY/Walt Whitman) then scored two consecutive goals to give Pace a 3-2 lead with 8:12 remaining in the quarter.
- Merrimack scored the next four goals, but the Setters fired in the last goal of the frame as junior
Anthony Gadaleta (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park) scored his first goal of the season on a shot with five seconds left, leaving Pace down 6-4 heading into the second.
SECOND QUARTER
- The Warriors scored two goals early in the second, but sophomore
John Kelly (Stony Brook, NY/Ward Melville) answered back with his first goal of the season to get back within two.
- After another pair of goals by Merrimack, sophomore
Wyatt Barfoot (Georgian Bluffs, Ontario/St. Mary's) and Brennan each scored to close the first half, sending the teams into the locker room with a 10-7 score in favor of the home team.
THIRD QUARTER
- Merrimack outscored the Setters, 4-1, in the third quarter, with Pace's only goal of the period coming from junior
Ryan O'Hagan (Watervliet, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) at the 9:49 mark.
FOURTH QUARTER
- Merrimack's Hunter Schmell scored the Warriors' last goal of the game 14 seconds into the final frame to push their lead to 15-8.
- Brennan continued to fight as he netted one more at the 10:59 mark and the cut Merrimack's lead to 15-9, but it was not enough as the Setters fell to the No. 3 nationally-ranked team.
GOALIE DECISIONS
Win: Edward Hellier (4-1)
Loss:
Robert Beshlian (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) (4-1)
Goalkeeper Notes
- Junior goalkeeper
Robert Beshlian (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) stopped 16 shots in the tough loss.
- Merrimack keeper Edward Hellier made nine saves.
SETTER STATS
- Brennan had four goals to tie the game-high in Saturday afternoon's matchup.
- Paterson dished out three assists, while O'Hagan scored a goal and assisted another for a two-point day.
- Sophomore
Matthew Simone (Seaford, NY/Seaford) had a team-best five ground balls, while freshmen
Daniel Lewis (Bohemia, NY/Connetquot) and
Mitchell Johnson (Manorville, NY/Eastport South Manor) caused two turnovers apiece.
WARRIORS LEADERS
- Towler scored four goals and scooped up three ground balls.
- Charlie Bertrand and Seamus Ford each registered hat tricks on the afternoon, with Ford adding an assist for four points.
- Blake Boudreau scooped a game-best 11 ground balls in Merrimack's victory.
RECORDS
#7 Pace: 4-1 (2-1 NE10)
#3 Merrimack: 4-1 (2-1 NE10)
WHAT'S NEXT?
- The Setters play next on Saturday, April 1, when they host Saint Anselm College in NE10 action on Pace Goes Pink Day at Pace Stadium. The opening faceoff is set for 12 p.m.
For all information regarding Pace University men's lacrosse, log on to
www.PaceUAthletics.com, follow Pace Athletics on Facebook (
T-Bone, Official Mascot of Pace University Athletics), and follow the men's lacrosse team on Twitter (
@PaceLacrosse) and on Instagram (
@PaceUnivLax).
