In May, everyone in college is busy. Deadlines must be met, projects require completion, papers require typing- nothing different for Pace University’s students. For 65 student-athletes, however, a daunting multitasking effort was on the horizon. The 2023 Pace Baseball and Women’s Lacrosse programs were deep into postseason competition.
The baseball team was in the NE-10 Championship. They wanted to reach the final weekend. Women’s lacrosse was #2 in the country. They were preparing for the NCAA Tournament. Their goal was the Final Four.
On May 8, both teams learned they were in it to win it. They had a good shot at history, for their program and the Pace Setters as a whole. This chance was a few months in the making from late February to now. A big week was now brewing. The teams were in different stages, but the objective was the same: stay alive. The end result would be 7 days to remember. 7 days with a convincing argument to be the best ever in Pace Athletics’ History.
Monday, May 8
While Women’s Lacrosse secured the #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the loss to Le Moyne College’s Dolphins in the NE-10 Championship still hurt. Now there was speculation as to whether they lost the #1 seed and hosting rights. It turned out the East Regional would stay in Pleasantville, which meant a fast turnaround.
Familiar foes were coming to Pace (now Northwell) Stadium. Le Moyne will be in attendance again this week. So would Adelphi University, the Setters getting their first-ever win versus the Panthers this season. Adelphi has plenty of history in this tournament. They made it far last year, as did the Dolphins. The only thing different this time is that they return to Pleasantville. How much of a difference it would make was a question that could not be answered soon enough. Before either of them, it was a date with another NE-10 school: The University of New Haven Chargers.
The Setters’ regular season on the diamond is over. Their record was 29-18, including 3 of 4 wins over Saint Rose away from home last week. Momentum on the Setters’ side. That one loss, however, was a 12-2 thrashing.
Nonetheless, now began the postseason. Pace is #7 in the 8-team field. The next road trip was to New Haven, Connecticut, home of the Southern Connecticut State University Owls. Seventh seed versus them, the second seed, for a chance to reach the final weekend. But first, a lot of travel. First, coming home from Albany, batting practice in Pleasantville, and then back onto the bus to New Haven.
Tuesday, May 9
Preparations are underway at Pace Stadium. The NCAA-branded banners have arrived. They are to be hung around the perimeter. One goes on the same wall behind where all the players stand on the bench. Another one is for the gate where our Setters come onto the field, leaving from Ianiello Field House. The NCAA logo is being sewn onto the top right of Pace’s home whites. It’s beginning to look like the big dance.
NEW HAVEN, CT- Pace Baseball survived, and they will advance. A blue and gold upset was pulled, and down went Southern Connecticut State. The Setters got it done in the 2nd inning. An RBI single took a 2-1 lead. A walk scored 3. Another RBI double scored 2. 5-1 Setters in a blink. The Owls brought it within one in the same inning. One more RBI single, this time in the 8th inning, put it out of reach for a 6-4 victory. Now it’s off to Syracuse, New York. #1 Le Moyne hosts Championship Weekend, a familiar foe for the Settters. For now, they get to play another day.
Thursday, May 11
A final practice is held for Women’s Lacrosse. The campus is starting to quiet down as the semester closes. Pace Stadium, however, could not be louder. Two hours of instruction, communication, and adjustments are yelled out as they get their reps. In less than 24 hours, NCAA Tournament games are happening on this very field; The first time for Pace Athletics period. The opponents will be familiar too: all of them from the NE-10. What a time to make history. What a time to bounce back. What a time to be a fan.
SYRACUSE, NY– The Setters survive, and they advance. What a time for a shutout. A 7-0 win over #4 Bentley for another upset. More importantly, it means Pace keeps going. Gleason allows one hit. Labita got 3 RBIs. McCabe and Mitchell had two knocks apiece. A four-run 8th inning decided it for the Setters; if there was any question about how hot the bats were, that was a definitive answer. How does 13 runs in 18 innings sound? Now came the hosts, the #1 seed Le Moyne College Dolphins.
Friday, May 12
Their first-ever NCAA Tournament game is a win. Women’s Lacrosse got back on track. The crowd’s nerves were apparent down 4-0 in quarter 1. Pace got one before the first quarter ended. Then they answered with a 9-goal 2nd quarter. Conway scored, Juvelier scored, Porcello scored, Corretjer scored, Mottes scored, and Rafferty scored. In no time, Setters led 10-4. Their lead never shrank from an advantage of 6. A 16-10 for Pace over New Haven. Later that day, Adelphi won 16-12 over Le Moyne. No chance at revenge, but still a chance at the Final Four. They’ll be back Sunday.
SYRACUSE, NY– The Dolphins swept Pace during the regular season. Two doubleheaders, all victories for Le Moyne. However, that was the regular season. A NE-10 Championship is on the line. One thing about postseason baseball is that you have to either get hot or stay hot. The Setters did both. How about another upset, this time #7 Pace over #1 Le Moyne. Again, late-inning work got the job done. A 3-run sixth inning made it 4-1 Pace. A 4-run ninth inning made it 8-1 Pace. Hunter Goldstein tripled into 2 RBIs. Mitchell McCabe picked up 2 RBIs. Soon, Franklin Pierce awaited them.
Saturday, May 13- Pace Baseball: 2023 NE-10 Champions
SYRACUSE, NY- Pace had to win one game. Franklin Pierce needed two. The Ravens’ urgency was apparent. Seven runs in the first two innings. Nine RBIs for Franklin Pierce total. They did what they must to win. The lone consolation for Pace was two runs again late. A 12-2 defeat. Now it is win and you’re in.
It took time, but Pace got on the board first. One run in the third inning, then two in the fourth. Labita rounded the bases again, as did Josh Miller. But Franklin Pierce did not quit. Down 4-1 in the 6th inning, they tied it at 4 runs apiece in the 8th. Right on cue, like all playoff games, more offense came in the late innings by the Setters. Luke Jacobi singles, Miller scores, Labita on 3rd, McCabe on 2nd. Then a RBI Single: 5-4 Setters. Mason Baronian doubles, Labita and McCabe come home. A Ravens fielding error occurs, followed by an RBI double: 7-4 Setters, momentum: Setters. Hunter Goldstein gets to 3/3, Baronian and Jacobi come in. Another fielding error goes to Franklin Pierce. 9-4 Setters.
The Ravens try to answer but get just one hit. One strikeout, then a foul tip lands in 1st baseman Nate Carramucci’s glove. The final chance flies out to Jacobi. The victory celebration begins. A new trophy is coming home. An automatic bid now has their name on it. Pace Baseball can call themselves champions for the first time. For the first time since 2013, they will play NCAA Tournament baseball too.
Sunday, May 14- Pace Women’s Lacrosse: 2023 NCAA East Regional Champions
500 people filled Pace Stadium to watch a shot at history. Pace Women’s Lacrosse was one game away from their first-ever Final Four. In their way was their in-state rival: Adelphi. The Setters finally beat them on March 29. That was the regular season. An NCAA Regional Championship was on the line. They seized the moment from the first draw.
Aleya Corretjer scored goal number 1 at 14:00 in quarter 1. She lit the flame. Jolie Urraro joined her on the scoresheet, scoring twice. Conway and Porcello cashed in too. On defense in quarter 1: zero goals, 3 shots, 7 turnovers. Setters held the Panthers scoreless for another 4 minutes into the 2nd. Not before two more goals for Pace. The halftime score was 9-2. All that can go right, went right for the home team.
Even as Adelphi tried to claw back in the 3rd quarter, the damage done was miniscule. 3 more forced turnovers, 3 saves for Samantha Tanguay. 10-4 after quarter 3, 11-4 with 13:48 left in the 4th, 12-4 with 7:56 left, 13-4 with 6:56 left. An exclamation point from Conway, her 3rd goal, the team’s 14, a 10-point lead. In dominating fashion, Pace Women’s Lacrosse can call themselves East Regional Champions. In a week from then, they would call themselves National Champions.