4-Goal Run in 4th Lifts Flagler Women to 11-10 Win over Saint Leo
via the school press releases and websites
No. 9 Saints Take Down Lions in Late Surge
SAINT LEO, Fla.– No. 9 (IWLCA Division II Top 25 Poll) Flagler College scored four unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to rally past Saint Leo University 11-10 this afternoon at the University Turf Field.
The Saints move to 4-1 overall as the Lions drop to 1-2 for the season so far.
Taylor Jendrek and Sydney Onega each scored early goal in the four quarter and Onega’s tied the game at 9-all. Ella Pinder converted her free position shot with 8:02 to go to put the Saints ahead. Onega added an insurance goal with 3:14 remaining.
The Lions managed to get the first goal of the game with a man-up advantage. The Saints fired back right after with a goal from Lexie Morton, the first of her four goals. The two teams continued this staying neck-and-neck the entire game with the Lions maintaining a small lead throughout the first three quarters.
Jenn Seebach stood out defensively for Flagler with four ground balls and two caused turnovers. Carly LaFarriere also shined through with seven draw controls. Goalie Lauren Ribadeneira also made 10 saves this afternoon.
Although they came up short right at the end, Saint Leo goalie Jessica Harclerode made eight saves. Jana Nuss scored two goals and had three assists while Fiona McLaughlin finished with three goals.
Next up for the Saints will be a matchup with another Sunshine State Conference team, No. 12 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, on Wednesday (Feb. 28) at 7 p.m. at Daytona Beach, Florida.
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Women’s Lacrosse Edged by #9 Flagler in Home-Opener
by George Hillen | Manager of Athletic Communications
SAINT LEO, Fla. – In a contest that featured five ties and four lead changes, the Saint Leo women’s lacrosse team lost in its home-opener against ninth-ranked Flagler in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon at University Turf Stadium.
The first quarter featured a back-and-forth battle between Flagler and Saint Leo as both teams scored a pair of goals on eight shot attempts as the score was tied at 2-2 headed into the second. The Saint scored the first two goals of the second frame until the Lions rattled off a trio of goals with each score coming from a different player. First, junior Maria Palomba scored unassisted followed by senior Fiona McLaughlin scoring off a dish from classmate Cassidy Passaro before sophomore found the back of the net off a pass from junior Ava Valenti as the Green and Gold took a 5-4 edge into halftime.
In the start of the third quarter, McLaughlin registered another goal, this time she was assisted by sophomore Jana Nuss to give Saint Leo a 6-4 cushion. Flagler countered with a pair of goals as the game was tied at 6-6 with seven minutes left in the third frame. At the 6:18-mark of the third, Nuss found McLaughlin again for a goal followed by Nuss scoring unassisted as the Lions led by an 8-6 margin. The Saints answered with a score before the end of the third in a man-up opportunity to cut their deficit to 8-7 going into the fourth.
Freshman Briana Bellando scored off a dish from Nuss in man-down situation in the beginning of the fourth, however, Flagler registered four consecutive goals as it led 11-9 with 3:14 remaining in the game. With less than 10 seconds left on the clock, Passaro laced a goal to pull the Lions within one score, 11-10, however, Saint Leo did not record a shot attempt in the closing seconds.
The Lions were led by McLaughlin who recorded a hat-trick of goals on five shot attempts while Nuss finished with five total points as she tallied two goals and three assists. Passaro posted a goal and one assist. Additionally, Palomba notched one goal, one assist, five ground balls, three caused turnovers and four draw controls. Defensively, junior Emma Hayhurst grabbed three ground balls, caused a turnover, and recorded a draw control. Sophomore Marina Dean tallied two draw controls, one ground ball, and scored a goal. In the net, sophomore Jessica Harclerode posted eight saves in the complete game effort in addition to four ground balls.
Saint Leo returns to the field on Monday, March 4 as it hosts Seton Hill (Pa.) in a non-conference matchup, scheduled for 7 p.m.
