PLEASANTVILLE, NY (March 2, 2024) - Georgian Court Women's Lacrosse went to battle with the top team in the country, defending NCAA Champions, Pace. The Lions did all the could to keep up, but in the end the Setters were able to come away with an 18-10 win. The loss drops GCU to 3-2 in their first five games. 

How it Happened
• Even though it was just an eight-point game, Pace took 30 more shots than the Lions, 46-16.
• Draw control numbers were close with Pace winning 18-33. The Lions though turned the ball over 30 times which kept giving Pace extra possessions.
• GCU was 20-23 on clears and Pace 22-26.
• Pace had the edge on the ground, 29-12 in ground balls.
• Georgian Court was just 1-4 on free-position shots and Pace 4-8. 
• It was another game with a lot of cards, 12 of them. Each team was issued six. The Lions scored three power-play goals and a shorthanded goal. Pace scored three with the extra attacker and once shorthanded. 
First Quarter
• Pace scored the first two goals of the game just 33 seconds apart for an early 2-0 lead.
• GCU cut it down to one on two occasions. Caitlin Petrellese scored first for GCU shorthanded to make it a 2-1 game. 
• Riley O'Connor made it a 3-2 game with a power play goal on an assist from Remi Reinhardt.
• The Setters though punched in two more goals in the final five minutes and led 5-2 after one.
Second Quarter
• Pace ran their scoring run to four straight scoring the first two of the second quarter for a 7-2 lead.
• The Setter defense was again supurb allowing just two second-quarter goals. Riley O'Connor scored her second woman-up goal with Petrellese getting the assist and Alyssa Hawley scored unassisted.
• Pace had their highest scoring output of any period in the second. They scored six times and were up 11-4 at half time. 
Third Quarter
• The second half was mostly even with Pace outscoring GCU by just one, 7-6.
• The half started with GCU scoring back-to-back getting a goal from Reinhardt and one from Bryleigh Tejchman, bring the Pace lead down to five, 11-6.
• Those were the only goals for GCU in the quarter though who scored exactly two in each of the first three.
• Pace finished the third scoring three straight, including one with just 33 seconds left to play.
Fourth Quarter
• Georgian Court scored three of the first four goals in the fourth. O'Connor made it a hat trick, plus one scoring her third and fourth goals.
• Reinhardt scored her second of the game cutting the Pace lead in half, 16-8.
• Each team scored four in the fourth which meant the Lions weren't able to gain any ground on Pace or threaten the lead.
• Gianna Nardini finished the game scoring in the final minute to bring GCU in double-digits. 

Lion Stat Leaders
• Riley O'Connor scored four of the Lions 10 goals.
• Remi Reinhardt scored four points with two goals and two assists.
• Kelsey Naclerio picked up three ground balls and caused three turnovers.
• Caitlin Petrellese, Alyssa Hawley and Bryleigh Tejchman each had a goal and an assist.
• Natalie Moradian made 16 saves in goal.

For the Setters
• Angelina Porcello had five goals along with four ground balls.
• Maddie Schubert scored five points with four goals and an assist.
• Annie Sheehan and Sydney Juvelier each had three goals and an assist.
• Ashley Belfiore got the win in goal playing 26 minutes, but did not record a save. 
• Kait Laico was the only goalie of the three that played for the Setters to make a save. She made two.

News and Notes
• Remi Reinhardt became the third Lion to ever record 200 career draw controls. 
• Kelsey Naclerio played in her 60th career game and Kasha Elzgina her 50th. 
• This was the Lions first ever meeting with Pace and their first game against a current No. 1 team in the country. 
• In all three games on this roadtrip, GCU opponents pulled their starting goalkeeper. 
• GCU goalkeeper Natalie Moradian made a career-best 16 saves. 

Up Next
• Georgian Court returns home next week. They take on another PSAC opponent in Bloomsburg Wednesday, March 6 at 2 p.m.