PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University field hockey team opened its 2025 season on Thursday night at Peter X. Finnerty Field, hosting Millersville in front of the home crowd. The Blue and Gold showed fight throughout the contest, but an early surge by the visitors proved to be the difference in a 3-1 final.

Millersville scored three times in the opening 10 minutes to build a quick lead. From there, goalkeeper Morgan Strecker settled in and recorded 10 saves to keep the Setters in the game. Pace began to push back in the second quarter as Sydney Sims and Carlotta Oschmann each put shots on target. The Setters also earned a pair of penalty corners before halftime but were unable to break through.

The Blue and Gold continued to battle in the second half. Kyleigh Kearney came up with a defensive save in the third quarter, while Strecker added several more stops to hold Millersville off the board. The Setters broke through late in the fourth quarter when Anne Kopec scored her first goal of the season in the 55th minute off an assist from Oschmann.

Pace created more chances in the closing minutes with shots from Enya Manzanera and Grace Francis, but the score remained 3-1. Pace finished the night with 12 shots and seven penalty corners, showing strong effort after the early deficit.

The Setters will look to build on their late momentum when they return to action on Sunday at 12:00 p.m., traveling to take on Slippery Rock University.