NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Keana Criscuolo scored twice, but Southern Connecticut State University field hockey dropped a 5-2 decision to Pace University on Tuesday evening at Jess Dow Field. The Owls fell to 3-4 on the season with the non-conference loss, while Pace improved to 5-2.
Pace struck early and built a lead that Southern Connecticut State could not overcome despite a push in the second half. Criscuolo recorded her third multiple-goal game of the season, all coming in the Owls' last four games. She leads Southern with nine goals and 22 points – both career-bests for the third-year Owl, besting her marks of eight goals and 17 points as a freshman when she earned NE10 All-Rookie honors.
In the third quarter, trailing 3-0, the Owls answered when Isabella Taylor set up Criscuolo for her eighth goal of the season, getting the Owls on the board and cutting the deficit to 3-1 entering the fourth quarter. Taylor carried the ball into the Setters' defensive zone and zipped a 30-yard pass through traffic to the front of the goal where Criscuolo converted to get the Owls on the board.
Pace pulled away with two goals in a span of 1:13 in the fourth. The second goal came off a penalty corner sequence where Kyla Hart-Perron recorded a defensive save for SCSU before Rook converted.
The Owls continued to battle. With time winding down, Kaiya Mercier assisted Criscuolo at 59:53 for her second goal of the game and team-leading ninth of the season. The late tally made it 5-2.
Criscuolo led Southern Connecticut State with three shots, two on goal, and both Owl goals. Sofia Frassinelli added one shot on goal that was stopped by a Pace defensive save from Anne Kopec late in the fourth quarter. Taylor and Mercier each recorded an assist. Hart-Perron added a defensive save.
In goal, Lyndsay Troisi started and played 51:53, allowing five goals while making four saves. Rachel Miller came on in relief for the final 8:07 and did not allow a goal.
Southern is back in action on Friday, Sept. 25 when it hosts Assumption at 4 p.m. at Jess Dow Field.
