Over 100 home games are played on the campus of Pace University by our Setters. 139 games happened on home turf/court to be exact for 2023-24. From August to May, our student-athletes become the men and women in the arena. First they are at Northwell Stadium, at Peter X. Finnerty in the fall. Then they are in Goldstein Fitness Center for the winter, then back outside to Northwell, Finnerty, and Pace Softball Stadium. Fans have routinely filled the bleachers and stands. They cheer, they shout names, they chant, and they protest for an hour plus of game time. And often, the fans are joined by other teams in the stands.
Multiple sports teams have been seen and plenty heard supporting their fellow Setters. General support of fellow Pace Athletes is expected. They share the same facilities. Practice is held on the same courts and fields. Meetings are held in the same rooms. Food comes from the same cooks. The athletes rep the same colors: blue and gold with their school, spelled out: PACE on the front. They each have the same goal: bring a trophy to Pleasantville. Even in the regular season, teams show up for teams.
Earlier this month, members of Pace Men’s Lacrosse took the front bleacher at Pace MBB’s most recent home game and got loud. Earlier this spring, Pace Women’s Lacrosse won their first-ever NE-10 Championship. Leading the cheers after every goal was Pace MLAX and Pace Women’s soccer. Some athletes also had a loud “Let’s go Lady Setters” chant at home Field Hockey Games.
The enthusiasm of the teams makes the teams’s efforts genuine. Of course, there is reason to cheer for the team. The energy that teams come to the bleachers with behind the others on the field or on the court makes the atmosphere just better. Even the occasional taunt and brag to whoever Pace is playing comes from their fellow Setters.
What makes seeing fellow athletes support each other as one from the past is their consistency. The teams do not just show up come playoff time. They are there during the regular season. The fellow teams definitely support each other during NE-10 play. Bragging rights of course mean everything in this conference. Even just being in the same class as each other may become reason for supporting each other. When the championship does comes around, the crowds, with fellow teams in them are plenty of blue and white. Even when they are away. During Pace WBB’s Elite 8 game back in 2022, multiple football players were sat and standing cheering at the television.
The fans embrace it too. Alumni may strike up conversations with the players of today. Lovers of the same sport such as soccer are supporting Pace. A father who played lacrosse in his youth supported his son at the lacrosse game talking to fellow athletes. Maybe it is a fan who was once a student and has since graduated from Pace on this campus 20 years ago chopping it up about the fan experience past and present. What is definite is the mutual love for sports and the loyalty to the blue and gold.
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