PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The #3 seeded Mercy University Women's Lacrosse Team plays at #2 seeded Pace University in the Second Round of the 2026 NCAA Division II Women's Lacrosse Championship on Saturday, May 9th at 1 p.m. at Pace University.

Who, When and Where

Date/Time: Saturday, May 9th 1 p.m.

Records: #3 Mercy (16-3), #2 Pace (14-5)

Location: Pleasantville, N.Y. (Pace University)

Ticket Information

Purchase Tickets Here

$10 Adults
$5 Seniors/Youth (Under 18)
Children 2 years old and under are admitted free with a paying adult.

Last Meeting vs. Pace

Mercy dropped an 8-6 decision to Pace on April 2, 2026.

Scouting the Mavericks

Mercy is coming off a 19-10 win over Southern Connecticut State on Thursday, earning the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament win. The Mavericks were led by freshman Ava Franco who had a game-high eight points. The Mavericks are making their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2022. With a win, Mercy would have their most wins in program history. Mercy won their fourth ECC Tournament Championship and first since 2023. The Mavericks won their sixth ECC Regular Season Championship and first outright championship since 2022.

Mercy has been led by freshman Jessica Grzelaczyk who has a team-high 77 points on 43 goals and 34 assists. Grzelaczyk set a single-game program record with her eight assists against D'Youville in the ECC Semifinals on April 29th. Sophomore Ashlinn Kelly has 71 points on 49 goals and 22 assists to go with 36 draw controls, 25 caused turnovers and 42 ground balls. Kelly recorded her 100th career point against STAC on March 28th. Junior Juliana Talenti has 20 assists with 16 goals and sophomore Kayden Meyer has a team-high 54 goals with 70 points and 22 caused turnovers. Meyer recorded her 100th career point against UDC on April 18th. Sophomore Angela Taddeo has 22 goals and three assists and senior Andrea Mott has 29 goals and 19 assists. Freshman Ava Franco has 37 goals and 30 assists and junior Riley Wallace has 39 goals and eight assists. Wallace recorded her 100th career point at Daemen on April 11th and her 100th career goal and draw control against Southern Connecticut State on May 7th. Senior Emily Marino has a team-high 35 caused turnovers with 49 ground balls and senior Olivia LaMonica is 13-3 in goal with 115 saves, a .442 save percentage and 9.92 goals-against average. Marino recorded her 100th career ground ball against Roberts Wesleyan on May 2nd. LaMonica recorded her 300th career save against Daemen on April 11th.

Grzelaczyk was named ECC Attacker and Rookie of the Year, LaMonica was named Goalkeeper of the Year, Marino was named Defender of the Year, Kelly was named Midfielder and Sachs earned Coach of the Year. Grzelaczyk, LaMonica, Marino, Kelly, Meyer, Franco and Wallace were named First Team All-ECC. Mott, Callow, Masi and Laibach were named Second Team All-ECC.

Meyer was named ECC Offensive Player of the Week on April 27th, LaMonica was named Goalie of the Week and Franco was tabbed Rookie of the Week. Bates, Mott and Wallace were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Franco was named ECC Rookie of the Week on April 20th and Marino, Kelly and Grzelaczyk were named to the Honor Roll. Kelly was named ECC Offensive Player of the Week on April 13th, LaMonica was tabbed Goalie of the Week and Callow, Grzelaczyk and Laibach were named to the Honor Roll. LaMonica, Kelly and Grzelaczyk were named to the ECC Honor Roll on April 6th. Grzelaczyk was named ECC Offensive Player of the Week on March 30th, Synan was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week, Batter was named Goalie of the Week and Franco was named Rookie of the Week. Kelly and Meyer were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Meyer was named ECC Offensive Player of the Week on March 23rd, Marino was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week, LaMonica was named Goalie of the Week and Grzelaczyk was named Rookie of the Week. Marino and Kelly were named to the ECC Honor Roll on March 16th. Kelly was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week on March 9th, Franco was named Rookie of the Week and Wallace was tabbed to the Honor Roll. Meyer was named ECC Player of the Week on March 2nd and Grzelaczyk was tabbed to the Honor Roll. Grzelaczyk was named ECC Player and Rookie of the Week on February 23rd and Kelly was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week.

Mercy is ranked No. 17 nationally in the latest IWLCA Top 25 Poll and No. 14 in the USA Lacrosse Magazine Poll. The Mavericks are 0-4 all-time against Pace.

Sachs and the Mavericks return six ECC All-Conference selections from a year ago, highlighted by ECC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-American Honorable Mention selection sophomore Ashlinn Kelly. Kelly was named IWLCA Second Team All-Region, ECC Midfielder and Rookie of the Year and First Team All-ECC last season. The midfielder ended the 2025 season with 48 goals, 17 assists, 65 points, 29 caused turnovers, 23 ground balls and 15 draw controls. Senior Olivia LaMonica also returns after being named ECC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. LaMonica was named Second Team All-ECC last season after going 10-7 in goal with 120 saves, a .448 save percentage and 10.16 goals-against average.

Also returning for the Mavericks is senior Emily Marino who was named First Team All-ECC last season after recording 24 caused turnovers and 32 ground balls. Junior Riley Wallace returns after being named First Team All-ECC following a season in which she had 47 goals, 11 assists and 58 points. Senior Maeghan Callow is back after being named Second Team All-ECC in 2025. Callow had 17 goals, eight assists, 25 points and 67 draw controls. Sophomore Kayden Meyer was named Second Team All-ECC last year after recording 38 goals, 14 assists and 52 points. Senior Andrea Mott returns for the Mavericks after missing last season due to injury. Mott was named Second Team All-ECC in 2024 after posting 16 goals, 28 assists and 44 points, leading the team in assists.

Junior Juliana Talenti returns after recording 15 goals, 19 assists, 34 points and 27 ground balls. Sophomore Dakota Dieumegard is also back after posting four goals and five assists and junior Madison Traversa and sophomores Sofia Knudsen and Kiera Medina also return.

Seniors Kaci Bates and Rita-Marie Masi also return on defense for Mercy. Bates started 16 games last season and recorded three ground balls and two caused turnovers. Masi started 13 games and had 21 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers. Sophomore Leanna Kwarta is back after starting eight games in 2025 with four caused turnovers. Juniors Olivia Van Dyke and Ashley McQuade also return for the Mavericks.

Also returning in goal for the Mavericks are junior Olivia Bradley and sophomore Liz Byrne. The duo combined for 12 saves last season.

Joining the Mavericks as transfers are sophomore Angela Taddeo and graduate student Kate McNally. Taddeo joins the Mavericks from Division I Stony Brook University and McNally joins Mercy from Division III SUNY Oswego.

Sachs also brings in a strong freshmen recruiting class with Ava Franco, Brigid Burns, Brielle Bilello, Sophia Pittoni, Keira Laibach, Jessica Grzelaczyk, Emma Synan, Emma Batter, and Molly Solnick looking to contribute immediately.

Scouting the Setters

Pace is coming off a 14-13 loss at Adelphi on May 2nd in the NE10 Championship Final. The Setters are ranked No. 14 nationally in the latest IWLCA Top 25 Poll. Pace is making their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and won the National Championship in 2023. The Setters are led by NE10 Midfielder of the Year Marissa Doty who has 52 points on 40 goals and 12 assists to go with a team-high 44 ground balls and 35 caused turnovers with 47 draw controls. Mackenzie Carita has a team-high 67 points on 40 goals and 27 assists and Annie Sheehan has 66 points on 26 goals and 40 assists. Maddie Schubert has 43 goals and nine assists and Sasha Kulo has a team-high 191 draw controls. Camryn Smith is 11-1 in goal with 62 saves, a .425 save percentage and 6.41 goals-against average.