Lions Unable to Upend No. 3 Limestone, 20-8
Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in Uncategorized.
GAFFNEY, S.C. – Playing their second game in three days, the Saint Leo women’s lacrosse team took on third-ranked Limestone on Sunday afternoon in Gaffney, S.C. The Lions posted a strong second half, but were unable to upend the nationally-ranked Saints, falling by a score of 20-8.
The Lions move to 1-3 on the season, while Limestone advances to 3-1.
Saint Leo was led by sophomore Stephanie Marran, who posted a game-best four goals on the afternoon. Christina Minneci tallied two goals and an assist for three points, while Callie Porcher and Alix Murray netted one goal apiece to close out the Lions’ scoring efforts.
Limestone saw three different players score hat tricks in their second-straight game, as Ali Schumacher, Racquel Prager, and Sarah Oor scored three goals each. A total of 15 players contributed to the Saints’ scoreboard, with 10 of their goals earned off of assists.
Nicole-Sirota Plotnikov saw the majority of the time between the pipes, registering five saves and allowing 12 goals in 52 minutes of action. The Saints were led in goal by Brigid Milchling, who earned two saves and allowed one goal in 30 minutes, while Rashelle McLellan and Megan Smith combined for three saves while yielding seven shots.
Limestone opened up with a four-goal lead just two and a half minutes in, but Minneci made good on a free position shot to break the run and put the Lions on the scoreboard with 26:38 on the clock. Despite Saint Leo’s best defensive efforts, the Saints scored nine unanswered goals to close out the first half with a mark of 13-1.
Saint Leo went on to match Limestone in scoring in the second period, with both teams putting seven goals on the scoreboard for a final score of 20-8. The Lions led the game in draw controls, 18-12, and were close behind Limestone on the ground ball battle, trailing 22-18. The Lions were 3-for-5 on free position shots, while Limestone only found success on 6-of-12 attempts.
The Lions return to action on Monday, March 5, when they take on Notre Dame of Ohio. Opening draw against the falcons is set for 7 p.m. For the latest news, updates, and information on the Saint Leo women’s lacrosse team, visit saintleolions.com and be sure to follow the Lions on Facebook and Twitter.