
Saint Leo: Women’s Lacrosse Comeback Comes Up Short; Lions Fall 10-8
Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in Uncategorized.
via press release – photo via SL web site
SAINT LEO, Fla. – Despite a last-ditch effort to come back, the Saint Leo women’s lacrosse team fell to Colorado Mesa, 10-8, on Wednesday evening in non-conference action at University Turf Stadium.
The Lions, who trailed 7-5 at the half, saw the Mavericks come out of the break and score the first three goals of the second half to extend the deficit to 10-5, but the Lions would score three goals over starting with Sabrina Sanacore‘s score from Kaylah Walstad at the 3:51 mark. A minute later, Emily Pittenger would snag a score off a dish from Caroline Fraser, and 25 seconds following that, Kelsey Burns would snag a free position goal with just 2:30 on the clock. Unfortunately, Saint Leo’s run started a tad late, and they were unable to complete the comeback.
Burns finished the night with two goals, and in the process became the all-time leading goal scorer in Saint Leo history. The senior entered the game tied at 87 with former Lion Christina Minneci (2012-15). Burns broke the record with her first goal of the match at the 6:50 mark off a pass from Lexie Walstad. Burns now has 89 career goals and the program record.
The Basics
Saint Leo fell to Colorado Mesa, 10-8.
Location: University Turf Stadium | Saint Leo, Fla.
Records: Saint Leo 5-4 | Colorado Mesa 5-2
How it happened
1H | Colorado Mesa got on the board first, but just a minute later Saint Leo sophomore Leslie Ferguson danced around the Maverick defenders to find the back of the net. However, the Mavericks would score the next two goals taking a 3-1 lead. It was Ferguson again who was able to find the back of the net for the Lions. The visitors were able to tag on another before Kelsey Burns netted her record-breaking goal off the assist from Lexie Walstad. Freshman Delaney Chrisco would add another for the Lions, tying the game at 4-all. The Mavericks would tally another before Katherine Larson would even it up again. Colorado Mesa tacked on two more in the final two minutes of action of the half, including one in the final three seconds. Rebecca Halley made six save in the half. | CMU 7-5
2H | The Mavericks scored their first goal of the half with a free position goal at the 24:47 mark and another goal would not come until the Mavericks again put another tick on the board at the 9:29 mark. Colorado Mesa would add another with exactly six minutes remaining, making it 10-5 for the visitors. With 3:51 remaining in the game, sophomore Kaylah Walstad dished the rock to freshman Sabrina Sanacore who scored to give the Lions life. A minute later, the surging Lions saw senior Caroline Fraser find fellow senior Emily Pittenger for the score, making it 10-7. Within 25 seconds following the draw, Kelsey Burns was awarded a free position shot, and the senior converted, cutting it to a two-goal game. However, over the final minutes, the Lions were unable to secure a solid offensive possession, and their run was halted. The Mavericks keeper made seven second-half saves. | CMU 10-8
Points to note
- Leslie Ferguson and Kelsey Burns both finished with two goals.
- Burns and Delaney Chrisco both added two caused turnovers
- Burns is up to 107 career points and is just 15 away from breaking the record for career points of 121 by Christina Minneci.