PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Following a record-setting season that saw the most wins in the program's Division II history, the Pace University football team took home several postseason accolades from the Northeast-10 Conference as 11 players on the Blue and Gold roster were selected to All-Conference teams.
Jah'Sheem Martin (Freeport, NY/Freeport) represents the Setters on the NE10 First Team, while
Jhalen Bien-Aime (Dorchester, MA/Bridgton Academy),
Lawrence Omolayo (Patchogue, NY/Patchogue-Medford),
Kadeem Langhorne (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin), and
Andrew Roach (Clinton, Md./Arundel Senior) all earned Second Team honors.
Anthony Tardogno (Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan),
Darius Jones (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty),
Prince Unaegbu (Boston, MA/Brighton),
Joe Mendez (Old Bridge, NJ/Manalapan) and
Dustin Huseinovic (Harrison, NJ/Harrison) were named to the All-Conference Third Team, while Huseinovic also joins
Adrian Rybaltowski (Howell, NJ/Freehold Township) on the All-Rookie team.
Martin was a consistent force for a stellar Pace defensive line, recording 53 tackles this season. The graduate student was Pace's leader in tackles-for-loss with 9.5, including five sacks for a loss of 30 yards. Martin also had an interception in the season finale against Saint Anselm, the first pick of his career.
Bien-Aime had a dominant season as part of Pace's ground game, breaking the program's all-time career rushing record during the year. The senior scored seven touchdowns while running for 922 yards, bringing his career total to a program-record 2,242 rushing yards. Bien-Aime broke the previous record of 1,873 yards held by Tim Conlon ('81) as part of a career-high 210-yard performance against Bentley on Oct. 13.
Contributing to Pace's success on the ground, Omolayo started each game of this season on the offensive line. Serving as one of the Setters' team captains this year, the senior helped provide lanes for the rushing attack that ranked fourth in the conference while allowing just 15 sacks all season long.
Langhorne led the Pace defense with 74 tackles in the season. The senior lineman recorded 30 solo tackles, six tackles-for-loss, and 2.5 sacks. Langhorne led the NE10 in fumble recoveries, collecting three over the course of the season. He had three games with 10 tackles or more, including a season-best 12 against Merrimack on Nov. 3.
Roach played in nine games in the Pace secondary, recording three interceptions and forcing a fumble. The graduate student also made 25 tackles on the season and was one of the Setters' top defenders, breaking up three passes.
Tardogno was another contributor to the Pace O-line, seeing action in all 10 of Pace's games. The junior was vital in both pass protection and the ground game all season long.
Jones was recognized as a return specialist after a great season fielding kickoffs and punts. The junior ranked second in the NE10 in both average kick returns (25.9 yards) and punt returns (12.0 yards). Jones also had an 80-yard kickoff return touchdown as part of Pace's Sept. 15 win against AIC.
Another defensive prowess, Unaegbu made 55 tackles during the 2018 campaign. The grad student was second on the team with 5.5 sacks on the season, as well as having 8.5 total tackles for loss. Unaegbu forced a fumble in Pace's Nov. 3 win against Merrimack and was named Homecoming MVP on Oct. 27 against Southern Connecticut State after a nine-tackle, 1.5 sack, and 2.5 tackles-for-loss performance.
Mendez was a premier pass rusher this season, leading the Setters' defense with seven sacks. The sophomore lineman was third in the conference in quarterback takedowns, and also had a fumble recovery against Southern Connecticut State on Oct. 27. Mendez was selected as the NE10 Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 4 following a seven-tackle, three-sack game against Millersville.
Huseinovic had an impressive rookie campaign in 2018, playing all 10 games in the Pace secondary. The freshman recorded 48 tackles on the year, regitering three sacks. Huseinovic recorded his first career interception in Pace's Oct. 27 win over SCSU to go along with 11 tackles, earning him NE10 Defensive Player of the Week nod.
Rybaltowski led the Pace receiving corps in his first season seeing game action, making 25 catches for 430 yards. The wide out had a catch in all nine games he played while scoring three touchdowns on the year.
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