Rockville Centre, N.Y. - The home portion of the 2026 season for #20 men's lacrosse was a rematch of the 2025 NCAA East Regional Quarterfinal as the Lions welcomed #8 Pace University to the RVC Sports Complex. For the second-straight time, the game would require extra time to determine a winner and Molloy would come out on top. The win sets Molloy at 1-1 on the season while Pace fell to 0-1. 

How it Happened

• Both goaltenders were tested early, combining for five saves through the first five minutes. The Setters would break the stalemate with Trevor Lamoureux breaking through with the first goal of the contest.
• Graduate student Zach Kroog would put Molloy on the board just a minute later following a pass from junior Mikey McClain. 
• Senior Tommy Corcoron, who played the hero by scoring the golden goal in last year's quarterfinal, doubled Molloy's lead after being tossed the ball from senior Jake Taylor. 
• Long pole Osei Adoma would score for the Setter to kick off the second quarter, but less than 30 seconds later Kroog added his second of the game off a feed from senior Brian Green. Matt Baldino tied the game for Pace with another goal 17 seconds later.
• The game would be tied two more times until a third goal from Kroog gave the Lions a 6-5 advantage in the final seconds of the second quarter.
• The teams would find themselves knotted up two times in the third quarter before a three-goal run put the visitors ahead 10-7 headed into the final frame of regulation. 
• The Lions roared into action to start the fourth, scoring three goals to tie the game: one from graduate student Timmy Morrow and two from redshirt senior Noah Hammon.
• A Pace goal broke the streak before freshman Jaden Simick scored back-to-back goals to regain the lead for Molloy, 12-11.
• A goal from Will Danowski tied the contest headed into the final four minutes. 
• The Lions attempted four shots but none were able to sneak by Jack Kern. On the other side, senior John Basile made a save in the final 75 seconds to preserve the tie and force overtime.
• Senior Brandon Pazienza won the opening draw and went to end it with a goal, but had his shot blocked. The resulting possession from the Setters faced Basile with another crucial moment with the senior coming up with the save. 
• A penalty to Pace sent the Lions to man-up for the sixth time with Kroog burying the game-winner with his fourth of the contest.

Top Performances

• Corcoron (two goals, three assists) and Kroog (four goals, one assist) both led with five points.
• Hammon followed with four points on three goals and one assist.
• Simick netted two goals with Morrow and sophomore Liam Taylor rounding out the scoring.
• Green, Jake Taylor, McClain, and senior Justin Palulis added assists for the Lions.
• Pazienza went 15-of-27 on face-offs and led with seven ground balls. 
• Sophomore Aiden Dinnigan had five ground balls and four caused turnovers. Corcoron followed with four ground balls and caused a turnover. 
• Liam Taylor and senior Shawn McCabe each had three ground balls with McCabe leading the way with six caused turnovers.
• Basile made a career-best 16 saves in net. 

Up Next
The Lions are slated to head to Wilmington University on Saturday (Feb. 28) for a 1:00 p.m. face-off from Wilmington, Del.