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Joe Adam postgame at Pace
Bob Koch, Entropy Sports Photography
34
Winner St. Anselm STA 1-0 , 1-0
10
Pace PAC 0-1 , 0-1
Winner
St. Anselm STA
1-0 , 1-0
34
Final
10
Pace PAC
0-1 , 0-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
STA St. Anselm 7 6 7 14 34
PAC Pace 7 3 0 0 10

Game Recap: Football |

Adam Makes History as Football Opens Season with 34-10 Win at Pace

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Saint Anselm College football opened the 2025 season with a 34-10 non-conference victory at Pace on Saturday evening at Northwell Stadium. The Hawks begin the season 1-0 while the Setters fell to 0-1.

Joe Adam became the winningest head coach in program history with the win, passing Cleo O'Donnell, with 29 career victories with the Hawks. O'Donnell guided the Hawks to a 28-11-2 (.707) record from 1935 to 1940 and is remembered for scoreless ties against Holy Cross and Boston College that secured undefeated seasons in 1936 and 1938. Adam, in his 10th season at the helm in 2025, has helped the Hawks to 21 wins since the beginning of the 2021 campaign.

Pace returned the opening kickoff 95 yards to take an early 7-0 lead in front of its home crowd, but after a Stephen Laguerre sack forced a Pace punt, Saint Anselm was able to convert on its second drive of the game to level the score. After Drew Forkner marched the team down the field, Ronan Noke came in and delivered a dart to Malaki Jones for a 13-yard touchdown.

Pace was later able to regain its lead as Marc Malandruccolo knocked down a 30-yard field goal to make it 10-7 With under two minutes to play in the half.

Saint Anselm got the ball back on a fumble caused by Aidan Noke and recovered by Matt Smith with one minute to play in the half. Forkner then capped off a five-play, 42-yard drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Jaidin Haynes to give the Hawks their first lead of the night, 13-10.

Saint Anselm's third drive of the third quarter resulted in its third touchdown of the game, with Jackson Coan reeling in a 14-yard pass from Forkner to make it 10-point lead.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Hawks were led by the rushing efforts of Jake Croce, Anthony Almeida, and R. Noke who set up a six-yard pass from Forkner to Almeida for his first career receiving touchdown to extend the score to 27-10.

R. Noke connected with Haynes for his second of the night to put the game out of reach, 34-10, with 1:46 left in regulation. Jonah Bassett sealed the game with an interception on the ensuing Pace possession.

NOTEWORTHY

  • The win marked the first season-opening victory for Saint Anselm since a 28-10 home win over Millersville on Sep. 1, 2022.
  • The Hawks snapped a three-game losing streak to the Setters, dating back to the 2021 season.
  • Saint Anselm improved to 17-11 in the all-time series against Pace, which dates back to 1999.
  • R. Noke's only two pass attempts resulted in touchdowns.
  • Croce's 100-yard game on the ground marked just the second time in his career he's reached the century mark.
  • Kyle Verriest led the team in receiving yards with 60, which included a long of 37.
  • The defense kept Pace to just 42 yards rushing.

UP NEXT
Saint Anselm will return to the northeast for a road clash against Division I Merrimack College on Saturday, Sep. 6. Kickoff from Duane Stadium is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
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