MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Saint Leo women's soccer scored twice in the first half with a gusty south Florida wind at its back and held on in the second half to stun host Barry University, 2-0, in Sunday's Second Round of the 2014 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship at Buccaneer Field.
24th-ranked Saint Leo improves to 14-5-0 overall with the win, and now advances into the Third Round for a rematch with Rollins College on Friday, Nov. 21, in Winter Park, Fla. Rollins earned its way through to the Third Round with a 1-0 win on Sunday over Valdosta State. The Lions and the Tars have already met three times this season.
The Lions wasted no time in going after the Buccaneers, taking advantage of a 15 mph wind at their back in the opening half. Saint Leo produced five shots in the opening 12 minutes, nearly scoring off Sam Buterbaugh's corner kick in the seventh minute. Buterbaugh dropped her kick right into the six-yard box at the feet of a Saint Leo attacker, who was unable to make contact with the ball.
The breakthrough finally occurred just five minutes later.
The Lions got on the board in the 13th minute when sophomore Genevieve Gignac scored her fifth goal of the season, giving Saint Leo a 1-0 lead. Redshirt freshman Katie Waddell's powerful blast from 20 yards out caromed hard off the crossbar, and straight to the oncoming Gignac who headed it past Barry keeper Becca Rogers.
Saint Leo doubled its lead to 2-0 in the 35th minute, when Waddell converted on a well-executed corner kick play that was aided by another breakdown in Barry's defensive coverage. Sophomore Saffron Jordan served the ball into the six-yard box by the near post, where a well-positioned Waddell one-timed it past Rogers.
That marked the end of the half for Rogers, a First Team All-Sunshine State Conference honoree, who was pulled two minutes later. Rogers would return to play the entire second half, and finished the day with five saves.
The Lions had to survive several attacks by the Buccaneers in the waning minutes of the opening half, including a header by Christy Grimshaw that Saint Leo keeper Laura Carstens punched over the crossbar as the horn sounded. That final stop enabled Saint Leo to head into the break with the 2-0 lead.
Barry tried to press its attack in the second half, and ended up outshooting Saint Leo over the final 45 minutes, 13-8. The Buccaneers were unable to get past Carstens, who finished the day with nine saves, matching her second-highest single game save total this season.
The Buccaneers narrowly outshot the Lions over the course of the game, 22-21, with Saint Leo taking nine corner kick opportunities to Barry's seven. The Lions were whistled offside once during the game.
Ninth-ranked Barry concluded its season with an 11-2-3 mark.
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Saint Leo women's soccer team, visit SaintLeoLions.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
- saintleo -
