ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. – No. 8 Pace University Men's Lacrosse built a three-goal cushion late in the third quarter before No. 20 Molloy University scored the game-winner in overtime to secure a 13–12 decision. Pace controlled momentum for stretches of the second half and carried a lead into the final minutes before Molloy forced extra time on Saturday afternoon. The loss moves the Setters to 0–1 in the young season.

Pace struck first when Trevor Lamoureux finished an early opportunity to give the Setters a 1–0 lead. Molloy responded with back-to-back goals to take a 2–1 edge, but Jack Kern steadied the defense with four first-quarter saves to keep the margin within one.

The second quarter turned into a back-and-forth exchange. Osei Adoma tied the game at 2–2 before Molloy capitalized on a man-up chance. Matt Baldino answered off a Declan Landers assist, and Will Danowski followed with an unassisted strike to push Pace ahead 4–3. Molloy countered with a brief 2–0 run, but Baldino and Lamoureux sparked a response to level the game at 5–5 before a late Molloy goal sent Pace into halftime trailing 6–5.

Pace delivered its strongest stretch in the third. Colin Reese tied the contest at 6–6, and Danowski ignited a 4–1 run that flipped the game. Baldino buried his third of the afternoon, and Danowski added two more finishes as the Setters surged ahead 10–7 entering the fourth.

Molloy answered with three straight goals to knot the score at 10–10, but Jake Cenci regained the lead off a Zach Goetze assist. Danowski added a man-up goal with 4:39 remaining to make it 12–11, yet Molloy equalized with under three minutes left to send the game into overtime tied at 12–12.

Both teams traded possessions in extra time before Molloy converted on a man-up opportunity with 2:02 remaining in overtime to secure the 13–12 final.

Danowski led Pace with four goals, while Baldino added three goals and Landers recorded a goal and an assist. In goal, Kern finished with 13 saves as the Setters battled through a physical, ranked showdown.

The Setters return to action next weekend with a Saturday match-up against Chestnut Hill for Pace's Home Opener.