Seton Hill began their 2026 NCAA Tournament with a first round matchup at Pace's Northwell Stadium in Pleasantville, NY on Sunday afternoon.
Pace used a 6-0 third quarter to take control of the contest and defeat the Griffins by an 18-13 score. SHU ends their season with a 16-3 record.
The Griffins came out of the gates firing on all cylinders as they jumped out to a 5-1 lead with 7:09 to play in the first quarter.
Kaden Granberg and
Riley Grudi scored less than a minute apart as the Griffins took an early 2-0 lead less than two minutes into the contest. Pace scored with 11:24 left to trim the lead to 2-1 but
Michael Coleman got that goal back with 10:24 to play to put SHU back in front by two.
Dexter Hannigan and
Nate Herbster scored less than a minute apart as the Griffins extended their lead to 5-1 with 7:09 to play in the quarter. Pace answered back with the final four goals of the quarter to tie the score at five.
Carter Li opened the second quarter scoring less than a minute into the quarter to put the Griffins back in front. Pace tied the score at six with 12:24 left in the half. Li scored again with 7:30 to play but Pace answered less than a minute later to tie the score at seven. Granberg and Herbster scored in the final three minutes of the half to give the Griffins a 9-7 halftime lead.
The third quarter was the opposite of the first as the Setters came out firing on all cylinders as they scored the first four goals of the quarter to take their first lead of the contest. Pace led 11-9 with 11:08 to play. The Griffins were not able to get any possessions of the ball in the first four minutes of the quarter. The Setters continued their run as they scored the next goal to take a 12-9 lead with 9:07 to play. Pace continued to control play as the Griffins committed 8 turnovers in the quarter and the Setters scored with six seconds left to extend the lead to 13-9.
Granberg scored with 13:13 left in the fourth as the Griffins trimmed the lead to 13-10 early in the fourth. A little over a minute later Pace pushed the lead back to four.
Andrew Mathieu cut the lead back to three at 14-11 with 11:14 left.
John Rebaudo IV scored with 9:56 left as the Griffins were back to within two. The Griffins could not take advantage of a Pace penalty as they lost the faceoff and the Setters were able to run off the penalty time and then score an even strength goal to push the lead to 15-12 with 8:41 left. Pace scored the next goal and pushed their lead back to four with 6:44 left in the contest.
Carter Li and
Kaden Granberg each with three goals. Li added a pair of assists.
Nate Herbster added a pair. John Rebaudo added a goal and 2 assists.
Will Cody finished with 14 saves
