PLEASANTVILLE, NY (March 5, 2025) - For the third time in six games, GCU took on a top-20 nationally ranked opponent. And for the second time it was an opponent ranked in the top-five. Wednesday, the challenge was on the road at No. 5 Pace. The Setters scored 10 in the first period and were on their way to a 24-6 win. The loss puts GCU at 3-3 on the season, with all three losses to ranked opponents.
How it Happened
• Pace was peppering the net with shots. They took 67 in total with 48 on net. GCU totaled 29 shots, 17 on goal.
• Faceoffs heavily favored Pace who won 25-34.
• Georgian Court turned the ball over 22 times while Pace lost it just 13. GCU was 17-21 on clears and Pace 19-24.
• There were just four total penalties and neither team scored with the man-advantage.
1st Quarter
• The two teams were trading goals early as GCU was hanging around.
• Down 2-0 91 seconds into the game,
Harrison Jordan found
Millan Webster to cut the lead in half.
• Once again down two,
Brett Bridges made it a one-goal game again with
Tyler Burns getting the assist.
• That's when Pace took over. They went on a 7-1 run over the final 6:49 of the first and led 10-3 after 15 minutes.
• Burns picked up another assist, this time feeding
Matt Dorrian who scored the Lions third goal.
• Faceoffs were a problem for the Lions who won just 1-14 in the quarter.
2nd Quarter
• Pace added another goal less than a minute into the second, then made it 12-3 with another goal at the 12:07 mark.
• After two assists, Burns scored one of his own to make it 12-4 Setters.
• Both defenses were playing well in the second with just three total goals through 10 minutes.
• The Setters then scored three more just 2:22 apart and led 15-4 at the half.
3rd Quarter
• It took just 19 seconds for Pace to start the scoring in the second half. They added a second at the 12:27 mark to bring the lead to 17-4.
• They added three more 83 seconds apart getting to 20 goals.
• When the period ended, Pace had added seven more, while holding the Lions scoreless and were up 22-4 going to the fourth.
4th Quarter
• Pace took an early penalty, and even though GCU didn't score man-up, the offense maintained possession and
Harrison Jordan scored shortly after.
• Not long after, Jordan added another with
Sebastien Castillo getting the assist.
• The Setters scored just twice in the fourth, but were okay to just run the clock out on a 24-6 win.
Lion Stat Leaders
•
Vincent Burkhart was under heavy fire. He played the first three quarters and faced 57 shots, making 17 saves, his most in a game this season.
•
Tyler Burns led GCU with three points scoring a goal and two assists.
•
Matt Dorrian and
Harrison Jordan each had a goal and an assist.
• Doug Makenzie,
Brett Bridges and
Millan Webster all scored.
•
Gavin Eremus was 6-9 on faceoffs.
•
Evan Singer played the fourth quarter allowing two goals and making seven saves.
For the Setters
• Jack Kern got the win in net making eight saves and allow four goals.
• Daniel Zabbia scored six goals and added an assist.
• Declan Landers totaled five points with three goals and two assists. He also picked up five ground balls.
• Charlie Townsend scored three goals on four shots with two ground balls.
• James Rosellon had an outstanding day on faceoffs. He won 18-22 and scooped 10 ground balls.
News and Notes
•
Vincent Burkhart became just the second Lion to ever make 500 career saves.
•
Thomas Fleming playing in his 30th and
Matt Dorrian his 20th.
•
Joe Murphy caused his 50th career turnover, the fourth Lion to ever reach 50 career caused turnovers.
• The loss drops GCU to 0-7 all-time against the Setters.
• The loss also snaps Georgian Court's three-game winning streak.
Up Next
• It's another NE10 opponent for the Lions. They travel to take on Assumption Saturday, March 8 at 1 pm.