Saint Leo, Fla. (September 23, 2006) – Freshman Hannah Beard’s (Liverpool, England) team-leading seventh goal with just 35-seconds remaining in regulation gave the host Saint Leo women’s soccer team (7-1-1) a 2-1 win over Florida Southern College (2-7) in a non-conference match Saturday.

Beard hit a perfect shot from an acute angle after defender Lizzie Seedhouse (Jr., Sheffield, England) played a free kick into the path of the striker.  The freshman’s shot sailed across the face of goal into the upper right corner for her team-leading third game-winning strike.  Beard has now scored in each of the last three games.

The Lions had taken a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute when midfielder Jennifer O’Connor (Fernandina Beach, Fla.) earned a penalty with a driving run through the middle of the FSC defense.  After she was pulled down in the area, O’Connor calmly stepped to the spot and converted her second penalty of the year for her sixth goal of the campaign.

Florida Southern had multiple opportunities to equalize during the second half and finally got the tying goal hen Amy Clampitt-Holsenbeck poked a shot beyond the reach of SLU ‘keeper Lauren Hudson (So., Odessa, Fla.) in the 87th minute.  FSC midfielder Ana-Sara Sedin was credit with an assist on the play.

The game looked headed for extra time when Seedhouse delivered the ball over the top for Beard who sent it home with a perfect strike.

Saint Leo will return to Sunshine State Conference play on Tuesday when it travels to Winter Park, Fla. for a key match against Rollins College at 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on the SLU Athletics Audiocast Network at www.saintleolions.com.