Homecoming last Saturday went well for Pace Field Hockey who shut out the American International College Yellow Jackets here at Peter X. Finnerty Field 6-0.
Prior to the game, six players were recognized as part of Senior Day for the program. All got their moment on the field with friends and family.
Three days break seemed to have done nothing to quell Pace’s offense. A shot came off Eveline Bussemaker’s stick just 1:12 into the game. The first goal would go to senior Julia Eshleman in a Penalty shot. The quarter would end with only that one goal on the board. 1-0. In the second, it was all Noëlle Meij who was also honored pre-game. She scored twice in quarter two. Her first came at the 18:36 mark courtesy of a pass from forward Krista Dietz. She scored again with less than 5 minutes to go in the quarter, the pass coming from the stick of forward Kyleight Kearney. AIC would get no shots on goal in the second, the defense was rock solid for Pace. They led 3-0 into halftime.
AIC had two shots early in the third quarter but neither materialized. On her first chance of the quarter, Dietz had another goal at 33:43. Just four minutes again #25 scored again, and Dietz is now up to 2 goals and 1 assist this game with over 20 minutes in the game left to play. The offense would not stop there. Eshleman scored her second of the game. Her shot at 40:46 doubled up Pace’s halftime lead in just the third. Down the other end, she would make a defensive save followed by goalkeeper Celeste Pagliaroli getting in front of AIC’s second shot. 6 would be all the Setters need for this contest as the fourth went scoreless.
Pace outshot American International 14 to 8, 10 on goal to 3. The teams were tied on penalty corners with 3 a piece and on fouls with none committed by either side. The win streak has now grown to 6. Their record now sits at 11-5, 8-3 in the NE-10
The final two regular season games are on the road for The Setters. On October 24, it’s up to New Haven, Connecticut where Pace will play Southern Connecticut State University. Their last of the season is in Waltham, Massachusetts to play Bentley University.
As it stands, Pace is third in the standings. They sit one behind Saint Anselm who are 13-3 overall 9-2 in NE-10 play. Meanwhile, they are one ahead of Bentley who is also 8-3 versus NE-10 teams but 10-6 overall. Seeding for Pace and the rest of the conference is sure to shake up this last week. Keep up with it all at www.northeast10.org/sports/fh/index and watch all remaining games on ne10now.tv
