PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Highlighted by six different scorers, the Pace University field hockey team began the new season with a 6-0 triumph over Saint Thomas Aquinas on Thursday afternoon. With the win, the Setters start the year at 1-0 for the second consecutive season.  

It was a rather dominating performance for the Blue and Gold, who outshot the Spartans by a 15-1 margin. Pace put the pressure on the Spartans all afternoon, tallying an 11-4 advantage in penalty corners.

Senior Lesley Sanchez Alvarez earned the victory in net, registering her fourth career shutout. The Setters' defense certainly did their part as well, allowing just one shot on goal.

Pace put in four tallies in the first half, beginning with a put back from Abby Stucker (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Holy Redeemer) at the 17:13 mark. Stucker benefited from a nice attack from freshman Lisette de Bruin (Bilthoven, Netherlands/Het Nieuwe Lyceum), who put the first shot on goal.

Rachel Platko (Hanover Township, PA/Holy Redeemer), Halley Rose (Dauphin, PA/Central Dauphin) and Paige Predmore (Harrisburg, PA/Susquehanna Township) all followed suit with goals in the first 35. Rose's 20th career tally came off an assist from Jenna Sanossian (Miller Place, NY/Rocky Point).

The Setters extended their lead to 5-0 courtesy of a nice connection from Senior Margaret Maclean (Ellicott City, MD/Centennial) and junior Samantha Gray (Greenlawn, NY/Harborfields) at the 42:02 mark. Maclean earned the assist to Gray's seventh career goal.

It was a freshmen duo who rounded out the scoring for the home team. De Bruin knocked in her first-career goal while Aniek Kroezen (Leidschendam, Netherlands/Gymnasium Novum) was credited with her first collegiate assist.

Up Next
The Setters will will hit the road for a matchup against Southern Connecticut State University on Wednesday, Sept. 6.