8-Goal 2ndQ Run Lifts Assumption to the 16-9 Win over the Saint Leo Women; Steinbrenner’s Jones 2G in Loss
via Saint Leo press release/website
Women’s Lacrosse Falls to Assumption at Home, 16-9
by George Hillen | Manager of Athletic Communications
SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo women’s lacrosse team lost, 16-9, at home versus Assumption in a non-league matchup on Wednesday night.
The Greyhounds struck first but were quickly answered as freshman Briana Bellando fired a goal before junior Ava Valenti found the back of the net off a dish from sophomore Jana Nuss to give the Lions a 2-1 edge. Assumption countered back as it scored consecutive goals to regain the lead with a 3-2 margin. At the 2:06-mark of the first frame, Nuss tied the game at 3-3 headed into the second quarter. Senior Fiona McLaughlin blasted an unassisted score as the Lions led 4-3 at the beginning of the second frame. The Greyhounds executed a 8-0 run as they grasped a 11-4 advantage with 6:25 remaining in the opening half. With less than one minute remaining, freshman Emma Buthorn registered her first career goal to cut Saint Leo’s deficit to 11-5 at halftime.
Assumption grew its lead to 13-4 in the third quarter before McLaughlin scored with less than four minutes left in the quarter as the Greyhounds held a 13-5 cushion going into the final quarter. The Green and Gold cut into Assumption’s lead as Buthorn scored followed by freshman Natalie Jones lacing a goal off a dish from senior Cassidy Passaro, 13-8. The Greyhounds scored before Jones tallied a goal unassisted with 5:28 remaining in regulation, however, Assumption scored a pair of goals within the last four minutes to give itself a 16-9 advantage.
A trio of Lions posted a pair of goals as McLaughlin, Jones, and Buthorn each scored twice. Nuss finished the game with one goal and two assists while Valenti and Bellando tallied a goal. Junior Amelia Lester led the team with four caused turnovers and five ground balls, sophomore Jessica Harclerode tallied collected four ground balls. Additionally, freshman Katie Lind recorded two caused turnovers and earned three ground balls. In the net, Harclerode registered eight saves in the complete-game effort.
The Lions return to action on Saturday, March 9 as they host Belmont Abbey in a non-conference game, starting at 12 p.m.
