DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 9, 2024) – Despite a team-high seven saves from junior Rebecca McClure (Canastota, N.Y./Pace University), the Mercy University field hockey team dropped a hard-fought 1-0 decision to NE10 foe Pace University on Wednesday afternoon in their Making Strides Versus Cancer Pink Game at Mercy Field.

The Mavericks (5-5, 2-4 NE10) have dropped four games in a row and fall to the Setters (6-5, 3-3 NE10) for the second straight year.

Mercy was led by McClure who had a team-high seven saves to take the loss. Freshman Eunice Santiago (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) added a defensive save and senior Rachel Palladino had a team-high three shots on goal.

Pace was led by Kaitlyn Fairhurst who scored and by Celeste Pagliaroli who made a game-high nine saves to earn the win.

McClure made two saves in the first quarter and Pagliaroli made three saves to keep the game scoreless at the end of the first quarter.

Mercy forced Pagliaroli to make three saves in the second quarter, but the score remained 0-0 at halftime.

McClure stopped three more shots in the third quarter and the game headed into the fourth quarter scoreless.

McClure made two more saves in the fourth quarter before Fairhurst scored following a rebound of a Jenna McCrudden shot in the 57th minute to give Pace a 1-0 lead. The Mavericks forced Pagliaroli to make three saves in the final two minutes of play but were unable to find the equalizer and the Setters earned a 1-0 win.

Pace held a 16-13 edge in shots and Mercy held an 11-9 edge in shots on goal. Pace held a 17-11 edge in penalty corners.

Head Coach Marissa Spinazzola and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday when they play at Bentley at 12 p.m.