WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The 14th-ranked Pace University women's lacrosse team notched its first NE10 road win of the season, defeating No. 21 New Haven, 20-10, in what was for three quarters a grueling back-and-forth contest.
The vital conference win ameliorates the Setters' record to 7-3 overall and 4-2 in the conference, while dropping New Haven to marks of 6-4 and 2-4.
A lopsided 9-1 Pace fourth quarter belies how close things were until the final 15 minutes.
For three quarters, the game was ultra-competitive, featuring eight lead changes and seven tie-scores, before the Setters asserted their win on the final stanza.
Playing against both the reigning NE10 rookie and goalkeeper of the week, the Blue and Gold would not be denied in the crucial fourth quarter, tying their season-high for goals in a single quarter with nine, including three from junior Sydney Juvelier (Centereach, N.Y./Centereach) in that period alone.
The Centereach-native finished with a career-high five goals scored, her fourth 4+ goal outing on her remarkable season. Juvelier currently sits at 30 goals through 10 games.
Juvelier's five points were tied for the game-high with senior Kayla Conway (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) who scored four goals and dished out one assist on the evening. The Wantagh-native set the tone early for the Setters, scoring the team's first two goals and assisting on the third.
Junior Katie Smaldone (Sussex, N.J./Vernon Township) also had a career night, recording her first-ever hat trick as well as tying her peak of two assists in one game.
Angelina Porcello's (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) two goals were her fifth straight game of at least a pair of scores, but the sophomore wasn't content to leave an imprint on just the offensive side of the game, as the Eastchester-native also caused four turnovers, double the amount of any player on the pitch.
Nikki Mottes (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) scored twice, gave out an assist, and picked up a team-high two ground balls. The Islip-freshman has at least a goal or assist in eight of Pace's 10 games in her inaugural season.
Up Next
Pace heads to Bentley for a Saturday noon road contest.
