Pace is one step closer to repeating. The Setters defeated the Bentley University Falcons today, 17-10 to advance. Initially offense-filled, the game ground to a halt this match. An early established lead for the blue and gold proved to make the difference between playing another day or playing again in February.
The opening draw and goal went to the Falcons. The next 5 draws all went Pace’s way as did the scores. Margaret Flocco capped off the first period, her second goal with 2:50 left made it 6-1 Setters. The offense kept flowing into the second. Following a Falcons’ yellow card, Angelina Porcello scored via free position. After two by Bentley, Pace followed with three to cross into double digits at 11-3. Annie Sheehan assisted then scored two of the three. Bentley stuck around getting 2 more to cut the lead down. The halftime score was 12-6.
Poor ball control would hurt the Setters in the third quarter. A defensive turnover led to the first Bentley goal of the half. Both teams took turns clearing and forcing groundballs. Out of a timeout, the Falcons scored once again off a clear attempt. A Setters foul resulted in a free position chance for Bentley, who had Maeve Johnson convert for them. The lead shrunk down to 3 at 12-9. Bentley won 3 draw controls to Pace’s 1 who also turned the ball over 4 times and had 7 ground balls forced on them. Zero goals were scored in a period for the first time since their double overtime thriller with Mercy University.
A nervous crowd got a sigh of relief when Nikki Mottes scored, ending the 15+ minute scoring drought. Porcello, who assisted on Mottes’ goal, sent another behind the goalkeeper leaping in between defenders. The lead went back up to 5, the one extra goal by Bentley proving not enough.
In a show of teamwork, Pace got 7 assists. Mackenzie Carita had 2 goals and assists apiece. Both Annie Sheehan and Margaret Flocco had a hat trick. Porcello finished with 4 goals and an assist.
Next is Adelphi for the third time this season and the second within a week. The stakes are once again high, this time for a trip to the Final Four in Florida. The first draw between the Setters and Panthers is noon tomorrow. See it live online at NCAA.com or onsite at Northwell Stadium. Tickets available at paceuathletics.com/tickets