DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Despite a career-high 29 saves from junior Kaylise McClure (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North), the Mercy University Field Hockey Team opened its 2026 season with a 7-0 loss to Pace University on Thursday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (0-1) fall to the Setters (1-0) for the fourth straight time.
McClure made two saves before Stella Musso scored for Pace in the 4th minute of action to give the Setters a 1-0 lead. McClure stopped three more shots before Abby Spaulding scored to give Pace a 2-0 lead. McClure followed that with eight more saves in the quarter before Feline Rook made it 3-0 in the 14th minute and Grace Francis scored less than a minute later to give Pace a 4-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. McClure made 15 saves in the quarter.
McClure made eight more saves in the second quarter and sophomore Gwendolyn Smith (Sound Beach, N.Y./Miller Place), junior Charlotte Sabert (Mohegan Lake, N.Y./Lakeland) and senior Alyssa Benvengo (East Islip, N.Y./Molloy University) recorded shots on goal. The score remained 4-0 at halftime.
McClure stopped three more shots to begin the third quarter before Spaulding and Francis scored to give Pace a 6-0 lead in the 38th minute. An Olivia Martinez goal in the 38th minute later gave the Setters a 7-0 lead.
McClure made three more saves to keep Pace from scoring again and the Setters earned the 7-0 win.
Mercy was led by McClure who recorded a career-high 29 saves and by sophomore Gianna Bevacqua (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) and Smith who each had a defensive save.
Pace was led by Spaulding and Francis who each had a game-high two goals. Tara Dusée made three saves in the first three quarters to earn the win.
Pace held a 49-6 edge in shots, a 38-5 edge in shots on goal and a 16-8 edge in penalty corners.
Head Coach Marissa Spinazzola and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, September 9th when they play at Southern Connecticut State at 7 p.m.
