Garden City, N.Y. - After taking a three-goal lead in the opening frame, the no. 16 Adelphi University women's lacrosse program never looked back, en route to an 18-8 victory over no. 12 Pace University on Wednesday afternoon. 

Series History:

• The win puts Adelphi on a three-game streak over the Setters, and gives them a 13-5 all-time record since the 2015 season. The last time the scoring margin was 10, Adelphi was on the unfavorable end, when Pace took a 15-5 decision on March 29, 2023. 
• In the last 10 matchups, the teams are even at 5-5, with a 7-1 mark on Motamed Field. 

Highlights: 

• Alexandra Leggio posted a team-leading eight points courtesy of four goals and four assists.
• Nikola Debicka recorded her first career hat trick at home, scoring all three goals in the final quarter.
• Jillian McFadden put up a season-high 16 saves between the pipes, holding the Setters to single digit scoring for just their second game this season. 
• Marielle Colalillo was also responsible for a hat trick, adding one helper to finish with four points as Ashley Kolomechuk also collected a three-goal game en route to notching her 200th career point. 

How It Happened: 

• Adelphi (4-4, 4-0 NE10) traded goals with the Setters to open the contest, but five straight from the home team - extending into the second quarter - put them in the drivers seat for good. Pace's leading scorer Marissa Doty netted a pair before the Cats put together another three-goal run to give themselves a six-goal cushion.
• Pace managed to net back-to-back goals to end the second to trail by four at the halftime break, as the Panthers managed to score five in both quarters of the first half. Leggio, Marielle Colalillo and Kolomechuk poured in the final three goals of the half for the home team to make it a six-goal game.
• The third frame was quiet as the hosts only recorded a pair of tallies, holding Pace (4-4, 2-1 NE10) to a single strike, as McFadden recorded six of her 16 saves in the quarter. A keeper's duel in the third still saw Adelphi enter the final frame of regulation with a five-goal advantage.
• After another back and forth with goals for either team, Adelphi went on a scoring spree- netting the last five of the contest to put the top-20 battle well out of reach.

Up Next: 

• The Panther remain home and will host Saint Michael's College on Saturday, March 28. Opening draw control will take place at 1:00 p.m on Motamed Field.