Pleasantville, N.Y. - Pace University scored the only goal of the match in the 22nd minute and held off a late charge from the St. Thomas Aquinas College Spartans to steal a 1-0 home victory in NE10 field hockey action at Peter X. Finnerty Field on Wednesday evening.

Syndey Sims netted the lone goal for the Setters as they improve to 5-4 overall and 2-2 in league action. STAC falls to 3-4 on the year and 1-1 against NE10 foes.

How It Happened

• The host Setters accumulated a 6-0 shots advantage in the opening stanza, but the game remained scoreless through the first 15 minutes of action.
• Pace earned a penalty corner with just over eight minutes to play in the second quarter. A pass from Melissa Ritchie to Kate Demars off of the insert was shot on net and initally stopped by STAC goalkeeper Madeline Schaefer. However, a high rebound was deflected to the back of the cage for the 1-0 advantage.
• Both teams battled for the remainder of the quarter, but the Pace would retain the one-goal margin at halftime.
• Third quarter action saw more of the same defensive-minded play, with the hosts generating two shots on goal and the Spartans knocking one wide of the cage.
• St. Thomas Aquinas would turn up the pressure in the fourth quarter, looking for the game-tying tally. The maroon and gold registered four shots in the frame, with two going wide of the net, one being blocked by the defense and one stopped by Setters keeper Alina Buerger.
• Pace would hold on to take the conference match and go one game over .500.

Inside the Box Score

• Madeline Schaefer (L, 1-1) made five stops on six faced in the match.
• Pace outshot STAC 12-5 and also held a 7-4 advantage in penalty corners over the Spartans.
• Nicola Van Vuuren recorded a team-high two shots for St. Thomas Aquinas in the match.

Up Next

STAC hosts Bentley University on Saturday, October 8 (12:00 p.m.) at Spartan Field.