COLCHESTER, Vt. – A pair of third quarter goals proved to be the difference as the Pace University field hockey team blanked Saint Michael's College, 2-0, for the team's season-high third consecutive victory.
 
The Setters improve their record to 9-7 overall and 6-5 in the NE10. The Purple Knights fall to 4-11 and 4-7.
 
After a scoreless first half, it took only 43 seconds for Pace to take the lead in the third quarter when forward Krista Dietz (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) scored her fourth straight goal dating back to Wednesday's game vs. Southern Connecticut State University. The sophomore leads the Blue and Gold with nine goals this season. Dietz' goal (30:43) was assisted by junior  defender Francesca Fava (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland) off a corner. 
 
Four minutes later another sophomore, midfielder Noelle Meij, scored a goal to double the Pace lead (34:30). Meij's goal, which was a high shot above the goalie, was assisted by senior midfielder/forward Jessica Wolfe (Halfmoon, N.Y./Shenendehowa). 

Together, Dietz and Meij have combined for 16 points in the last two games. 
 
Freshman goalkeeper Alina Buerger (Königs Wusterhausen, Brandenburg, Germany/Friedrich-Schiller-Gymnasium) saved six shots in her fifth career shutout and ninth win. Saint Michael's keeper Courtney Watt was forced to make 14 saves. 

Next, Pace puts its win streak on the line against Adelphi University (10-7, 9-3 NE10) on Wednesday at 4 p.m. from Garden City, N.Y., in the penultimate regular season contest. The Panthers have won two in a row, outscoring their opponents 9-2 along the way.