GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – The #2 seed Pace Women's Lacrosse came up just short in a back-and-forth Northeast 10 Conference (NE10) Championship battle on Saturday, falling 14-13 to #1 seed and top-ranked Adelphi University at Motamed Field. The Setters move to 14-5 overall after a hard-fought title game that featured multiple lead changes and a late push by the Blue and Gold.
Pace wasted no time asserting itself early, trading goals throughout the opening quarter before building a 4-3 lead behind a strong start from Mackenzie Carita and Marissa Doty. Carita scored twice in the opening frame, while Doty added a pair of goals as the Setters matched Adelphi's early intensity.
The second quarter remained tight, with both teams continuing to exchange goals. Annie Sheehan and Doty each found the back of the net to keep Pace within reach, but Adelphi carried a narrow 7-6 lead into halftime.
The back-and-forth battle continued in the third, as Alexandra Witucki and Sheehan scored to help Pace stay even. Carita added another goal late in the quarter to tie the game at 9-9 heading into the final period.
Pace surged ahead in the fourth, scoring three straight goals to take a 12-11 lead. Carita and Sheehan each contributed during the run, as the Setters looked poised to claim the conference title. However, Adelphi responded with three consecutive goals of its own to regain a 14-12 advantage in the closing minutes.
Carita scored her sixth goal of the game with under a minute remaining to cut the deficit to 14-13, but the Setters were unable to find the equalizer in the final seconds.
Carita led all scorers with six goals and one assist, while Doty added three goals and an assist. Sheehan contributed three goals and two assists as Pace totaled 13 goals on 38 shots in a balanced offensive effort.
The Setters delivered a strong showing against the nation's top-ranked team, holding advantages in shots (38-28) and draw controls (25-6) while continuing to battle throughout all four quarters.
Carita and Doty were both recognized for their standout performances throughout the tournament, earning selection to the NE10 All-Championship Team.
The appearance marked another step forward for the program, as Pace reached the NE10 Championship game as the #2 seed, continuing its run as one of the top teams in the conference.
Despite the result, the Setters remain in strong position for an NCAA Tournament berth and will await the NCAA Division II Selection Show.
