PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The spring sports season is finally upon us, as the Pace University men's lacrosse team kicks off their 2019 campaign this weekend. After a long offseason, the Setters begin their new campaign on Saturday afternoon at home against Dominican College.

A Look Back At Last Year: The Setters went 7-7 in 2018, finishing sixth in the NE10 standings. The Blue and Gold would be ranked in every USILA poll throughout the season, climbing to as high as No. 3 and ultimately ending the year slotted at No. 19. Pace claimed the No. 6 seed in the postseason conference tournament, where they were defeated by Adelphi in a first-round matchup.

Preparing For the Present…: A senior class of 12 bring a core of veteran leadership to the Setters in 2019. Of the Class of 2019, 11 have been with the team for three of more seasons. Amongst the notable senior returners are Bradley Paterson (Caldwell, NJ/Depaul Catholic), who comes off a team-high 43-point season a year ago, and Wyatt Barfoot (Georgian Bluffs, Ontario/St. Mary's), coming off a 16-point campaign. The two are joined by John Kelly (Stony Brook, NY/Ward Melville) and graduate student Connor Vercruysse (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown), who comes to Pace following four years at Rutgers, as team captains for the new season.

…As Well as the Future: To address the large roster turnover looming following the season, the Setters have brought in 14 freshmen to continue development of a solid young core. The group of rookies join 13 sophomores that will look to continue their growth as players alongside the upperclassmen teammates.

Filling the Hole in Goal: Perhaps the biggest loss for Pace in the Class of 2018 was the departure of goalkeeper Robert Beshlian (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh). The Setters allowed an average of just 9.21 goals per game last season, in large part due to Beshlian's .587 save percentage that ranked second-highest in the conference. The Setters have four goalies on this year's roster, including Zachary Powdermaker (Allentown, NJ/Allentown) and Ryan Hultberg (Cream Ridge, NJ/St. Joseph-Metuchen) returning from the 2018 team who each saw limited playing time a year ago, and a pair of freshmen in Louis Ragusa (Ossining, NY/Yorktown) and Andrew Pinto (Oakdale, NY/Connetquot). 

Causing Chaos: The Setters were the top team in the NE10 in causing turnovers last season with 143. Pace returns most of their defensive unit that was able to generate pressure on opposing ballhandlers, as Daniel Lewis (Bohemia, NY/Connetquot), Spencer DeRosa (Huntington Station, NY/Walt Whitman), Dom Albi (Bellmore, NY/Bellmore JFK), and Mitchell Johnson (Manorville, NY/Eastport South Manor) each had 12 or more caused turnovers in 2018.

All-Conference Performers: Speaking of DeRosa, he is one of two All-NE10 players who will return for the Blue and Gold. DeRosa was named to the conference's Second Team in 2018, while sophomore Timothy January (Peabody, MA/Peabody Veterans Memorial) was selected to the All-Rookie Squad.

Preseason Polls: The Setters were ranked No. 18 in both the Nike/US Lacrosse Magazine and United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) preseason polls. Pace moved up to No. 15 in the USILA poll released earlier this week. Pace was also positioned fifth in the NE10's Preseason Coaches Poll.

How to Follow: For all information regarding Pace University men's lacrosse, log on to www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace Men's Lacrosse on Twitter (@PaceLacrosse) and on Instagram (@paceunivlax).