LAKELAND, Fla. – The Pace University women's lacrosse team suffered its first defeat of the 2023 season, dropping a 14-12 decision to No. 2 ranked Florida Southern College Sunday afternoon.

The game was back-and-forth early, as the team traded goals in the opening 15 minutes. Grad student midfielder Aleya Corretjer (Thiells, N.Y./North Rockland) scored a pair in the first quarter, and Pace (2-1) got another by junior midfielder Angelina Porcello (Eastchester, N.Y./Eastchester) as the teams went into the second quarter tied 3-3.

The Moccasins (7-0) took control in the second, outscoring the Setters 6-1 in the period to jump out to a 9-4 lead. Hailey Daleo scored twice for Florida Southern, picking up her 16^th and 17^th goals of the season.

Freshman defender Katie Long (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee) scored her second of the year in the third to make it a four-goal game, but shortly after, the Moccasins took advantage following a Pace penalty. Madison Tare scored her third of the day, giving the home team a five-goal cushion.

Senior attack Jolie Urraro's (Sayville, N.Y./Connetquot) second of the afternoon late in the third made it a 10-6 game, but Florida Southern answered once again to go up 11-6 in the final minute. However, just 12 seconds later, Porcello netted another to cut the deficit back to four goals heading to the final quarter.

Grad student midfielder Kayla Conway (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) scored in the opening minute of the fourth, but the Moccasins scored one of their own just 40 seconds later. Long and Porcello scored back-to-back goals, bringing Pace within two with 8:12 to go in the game. But two more Florida Southern goals put the game out of reach, and two late goals by Conway and Long weren't enough as the No. 2 ranked Moccasins took a 14-12 victory over the No. 6 ranked Setters.

Porcello and Long had three goals apiece, with Porcello adding three ground balls and three caused turnovers. Corretjer, Urraro and Conway each scored twice, and senior defender Delilah Doyle (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon Senior) had three ground balls and four caused turnovers. Junior midfielder Julianna Febbraio (Carmel, N.Y./Carmel) picked up three ground balls and caused a turnover, and freshman midfielder Mackenzie Carita (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) had two ground balls and two caused turnovers.

Up Next
Pace continues its Florida trip Wednesday, March 15, as the Setters take on the No. 4 ranked University of Tampa at 8 p.m.