Steinbrenner alums Natalie Jones 3G and Zoey Lind 2A, Bartram Trail alum Marina Dean 2GBs/1CTO for Saint Leo. East Lake alum Samantha Reich 1G

via the school press releases/websites

BOX SCORE

#16 Women’s Lacrosse Holds #12 Embry-Riddle Flightless in 18-12 SSC Win

by George Hillen | Manager of Athletic Communications

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The 16th-ranked Saint Leo women’s lacrosse team picked up its third-straight victory after recording an 18-12 win on the road versus 12th-ranked Embry-Riddle in Sunshine State Conference (SSC) play on Saturday afternoon.

The Eagles were able to strike first with a goal at the 12:46-mark of the first quarter until the Lions rattled off a trio of goals from freshman Briana Bellando, sophomore Jana Nuss, and junior Maria Palomba as the Green and Gold led by a 3-1 margin. Both offenses went back-and-forth as they split the next six goals and the Lions maintained a two-goal lead, 6-4, at the end of the first quarter.

Saint Leo continued to build momentum at the start of the second frame with three consecutive goals as Bellando, senior Fiona McLaughlin, and Nuss found the back of the net to give the Lions a 9-4 cushion. Sandwiched between a pair of goals from Embry-Riddle was another three-goal set from the Green and Gold, first from McLaughlin followed by Bellando and Nuss as Saint Leo held a 12-6 lead at halftime.

Sophomore Sophia Wood and McLaughlin kickstarted the third quarter with both lacing a goal to extend the Lions lead to 14-6. The Eagles scored three of the last four goals in the third quarter to trim their deficit to 15-9 heading into the final quarter. After McLaughlin blasted her fourth goal of the contest, Embry-Riddle went back-to-back to trail 16-11. Senior Cassidy Passaro found the back of the net with 4:19 remaining in the game while the Lions defense held the Eagles scoreless for the next two minutes and 20 seconds. A goal from junior Emma Hayhurst off a dish from Passaro sealed the victory for the Green and Gold with less than 30 seconds left in regulation.

McLaughlin led the offensive attack for the Lions with four goals while Nuss, Bellando, and freshman Natalie Jones each recorded a hat-trick. Wood posted a pair of goals in addition to Passaro, Palomba, and Hayhurst each registering a goal. Freshman Zoey Lind dished out two assists. Palomba also tallied nine draw controls, three groundballs, and caused three turnovers. Junior Julia Sharp recorded two groundballs and forced two turnovers. In the net, sophomore Jessica Harclerode posted nine saves and collected three groundballs in the complete-game effort.

The Lions return to action on Tuesday, April 16 as they host 20th-ranked Florida Tech in an SSC showdown at 7 p.m.

*****

Women’s Lacrosse Comes Up Short Against Saint Leo

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle women’s lacrosse team was unable to come up with a win in the final home game of the 2024 regular season slate on Saturday. In a battle between two top-20 teams, the 12th-ranked Eagles (12-4, 3-3) fell to No. 16 Saint Leo (10-5, 4-2) 18-12 in Sunshine State Conference play at the Embry-Riddle Lacrosse Field.
 
Prior to the start of Saturday’s game, seniors Maile Kuo, Emma Telatovich and Alexa Zeruto were recognized for their contributions to the Embry-Riddle Women’s Lacrosse.
 
Eliana Enners opened the scoring for the Eagles as her team-best 53rd goal of the year gave the Blue and Gold and early 1-0 advantage. The lead was short-lived, however, as the Lions answered just 20 seconds later, rattling off three goals in quick succession on the way to a 6-4 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
Another six-spot coupled with stifling defense that allowed just two Eagle goals, helped the visitors widen the gap to 12-6 at the half.
 
An even second half saw both teams score three goals apiece in each quarter. The Lions scored twice to start the first quarter and led by as many as eight (15-7) goals, but two scores by Alexa Zeruto in the last 28 seconds made it a six-goal game once again and gave the Eagles some momentum going into the fourth.
 
Enners’ free position goal at the 9:27 mark of the fourth quarter brought the Eagles within six (16-10). The freshman won the ensuing draw and just 10 seconds later, she fed Kenley Zeruto reduce the deficit to five (16-11). The Eagles were unable to get any closer as Saint Leo outscored the Eagles 2-1 in the last 4:19 to take the win.
 
Alexa Zeruto and Catlin Gavin each finished with three goals, while Enners and Callison Foreman scored two goals apiece. Gavin led all players with four caused turnovers while Enners won six draws for Embry-Riddle.
 
The Eagles will wrap up regular season play on the road on Wednesday, traveling to Tampa for a 3 p.m. game.