PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – No 12. Pace University Women's Lacrosse opened Northeast 10 Conference play with a road victory on Thursday afternoon, defeating No. 22 Saint Anselm College, 16–12, at Grappone Stadium. The Setters used a six-goal fourth quarter to pull away late and improve to 3–2 overall and 1–0 in the Northeast 10 Conference.
Pace struck first when
Abigail O'Connor opened the scoring early in the first quarter, but Saint Anselm responded with three of the next four goals to take a 4–3 lead by the end of the opening frame. The Blue and Gold stayed within striking distance behind goals from
Lia Villari and
Annie Sheehan during the quarter.
The Setters found their rhythm in the second quarter after Saint Anselm extended its lead to 6–3. Pace responded with a five-goal surge, beginning with free-position goals from
Lindsay Radmann before
Abigail O'Connor and
Maddie Schubert each found the back of the net. Radmann added another tally and
Marissa Doty scored on a man-up opportunity to give the Blue and Gold a 9–7 lead late in the half. Saint Anselm added a late goal, but Pace carried a 9–8 advantage into halftime.
The teams traded goals throughout the third quarter as the Hawks tied the game at 9–9 before Doty responded to restore the lead. Saint Anselm answered again to make it 10–10, but
Lia Villari scored late in the period to give the Setters an 11–10 edge heading into the final quarter.
Pace took control in the fourth quarter.
Annie Sheehan opened the scoring in the period before Schubert added two more goals to extend the lead to 14–11.
Lisa Heffernan then scored twice in the final minutes, including a free-position goal and a late strike assisted by Sheehan, as the Setters secured the conference-opening victory.
Schubert and
Lindsay Radmann each led Pace with three goals, while Heffernan, Sheehan, Villari, Doty, and O'Connor all added two goals. The Blue and Gold controlled key possession moments, finishing with 18 draw controls and 16 ground balls in the contest.
Pace returns to action on Tuesday, when the Setters host Saint Leo University at Northwell Stadium. Opening draw is scheduled for 6:00 p.m..
