Saint Leo: #15 Saint Leo Bounces Back to Take Down Young Harris, 20-9
via press release – photo via SL web site
SAINT LEO, Fla. – The No. 15 Saint Leo men’s lacrosse team took down the visiting Young Harris Mountain Lions, 20-9, in a bounce-back performance on Sunday afternoon at University Turf Stadium.
Saint Leo, who dropped its first home game of the season on Friday evening, needed an inspiring performance to get back in the rhythm of the game, and Sunday’s Military Appreciation Game seemed to do the trick. The Lions, who donned camo uniforms, honored all who have served in the armed forces, including their own Chris Burke, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and Nick Argitis, a current member of the United States Army ROTC.
The Lions saw sophomore Charlie Kurtenbach finish with a career-high six points with three goals and three assists. Juniors Kyle Pauwels and Anthony Visintin each added five points. Pauwels scored four goals and added an assist, while Visintin tallied three goals and added two assists for a career-high five points. Jake Gilmour added four points with two goals and two assists, while Bruce Preeschl and Zach Lysyk each had three points. Preeschl tallied two goals and an assist, while Lysyk added a goal and two assists.
The Basics
#15 Saint Leo took down Young Harris, 20-9
Location: University Turf Stadium | Saint Leo, Fla.
Records: #15 Saint Leo 8-2 | Young Harris 5-7
How it happened
1Q | Anthony Visintin opened things off for the Green & Gold, ripping a shot from the angle of the cage. The second Saint Leo goal was from Zach Lysyk, who dodged his defender and found the back of the net. Bruce Preeschl then found Jake Gilmour to take the 3-0 lead. Saint Leo went three for four on the face and added nine ground balls. Thomas Tatarian also made five saves in the first quarter. | Saint Leo 3-0
2Q | Preeschl added one of his own just 40 seconds into the quarter. However, Young Harris was able to snag two back-to-back goals in just 10 seconds of action. Saint Leo responded with back-to-back goals by Kyle Pauwels, both off the dish from Visintin. Preeschl followed as he added his second off the assist from Lysyk. Matt Scharr then found a cutting Charlie Kurtenbach, who snuck the ball past the keeper. Young Harris was able to score with five seconds remaining in the half. Saint Leo won six of nine faceoffs and added eight ground balls. Tatarian again made five saves. | Saint Leo 8-3
3Q | Young Harris opened up the second half with an unassisted goal less than a minute into action, but Jake Kavanagh would answer. The senior grabbed a ground ball on the Lions’ defensive end, and sprinted down the center of the field, flying by defenders. He was able to get within reach of the cage and sniped a shot for the score. Jake Gilmour would add another score for the Lions, and a minute later, Kurtenbach would find a cutting Rob Cavanaugh for the score. Visintin would score off a Lysyk dime before the Mountain Lions would record another score. Visintin would add his third goal of the game on an unassisted rip from distance. Kurtenbach then found Pauwels for the score with 4:37 on the clock, and just seven seconds later, Gilmour found Kurtenbach for the score. With 3:54 on the clock, Young Harris would add a man-up goal to close out the quarter. There were six penalties in the quarter. Saint Leo picked up 14 ground balls and went seven of 11 from the face. | Saint Leo 15-6
4Q | Young Harris would snag two-straight goals to open the fourth period, making it 15-8, but a man-up goal from Matt Shand off a Kurtenbach pass would end the run. Saint Leo then saw Pauwels find a cutting Preston Pena for his first goal of the season. The dynamic duo returned as Gilmour dished the rock to Pauwels for the score, making it 18-8. Young Harris would get their ninth goal with 2:31 left to play, but goals by Philip Buque and Kurtenbach in the final 30-seconds of action would give the game its final score. Tatarian added six saves in the final period. | Saint Leo 20-9
Points to note
- Thomas Tatarian recorded a career-high 20 saves.
- Preston Pena‘s goal was the second of his career, the first which he scored in his sophomore season versus Lees-McRae.
- Mitch Wilson and Kyle Pauwels both finished with five GBs, while Jake Kavanagh added four. Chris Burke, Matt Shand, Jake Bye, Eric Lee, and Charlie Kurtenbach all added three ground balls.
- Ethan Ticehurst added two caused turnovers.
- Pauwels and Jake Gilmour both have surpassed the 50-point mark this season. Pauwels has 42 goals and eight assists, while Gilmour has 25 goals and 28 assists.
