MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Saint Leo women's soccer gave Head Coach Mario Rincon a win in his coaching debut with the Lions, dispatching host Christian Brothers University, 2-0, on Friday evening at Signaigo Field.
"It's exciting to get the first coaching win, but I'm more excited for the kids. They battled and fought, and they scored two great goals off set pieces," said Rincon.
"We'll celebrate the win tonight, and tomorrow morning we'll focus on West Alabama."
Sophomore Sofie Haellsten got the Lions on the scoreboard with her goal at the 11:34 mark, capping an offensive flurry that saw Saint Leo take two corner kicks and three shots toward the goal in a little less than two minutes of play. Haellsten finally put the ball into the net, off a corner kick service from Natalie Melillo.
Saint Leo doubled its lead to 2-0 exactly 22 minutes into the contest, off an unassisted goal by Rebecca Anderson. Anderson took a free kick from approximately 30 yards out, and the shot scored after the Buc keeper was unable to collect the incoming shot.
Christian Brothers outshot the Lions, 13-11, with Saint Leo maintaining a 4-3 advantage in shots on goal. Each team committed eight fouls, while the Lions had four corner kick opportunities to CBU's three.
The Basics
Final Results: Saint Leo def. Christian Brothers Univ., 2-0
Where: Signaigo Field | Memphis, Tenn.
Record: SLU 1-0-0 | CBU 0-1-0
How It Happened
12'| Saint Leo get on the board after Sofie Haellsten scores with an assist by Natalie Melillo. | Saint Leo 1-0 |
23'| Rebecca Anderson scores her first career goal | Saint Leo 2-0 |
Points to Note
- Saint Leo's season opening win kept alive a remarkable streak for the Lions, who have not lost a season opener since the 2007 season. The last time the Lions notched a shutout victory in a season opener was August 29, 2014, when Saint Leo blanked Stetson, 2-0, in DeLand, Fla.
- Sofie Haelsten's goal was the second of her career; her previous score was also against a Gulf South opponent when she notched a marker against Valdosta State (10/2/2016).
For the Opponent – Christian Brothers
- Christian Brothers drops its season opener for the second year in a row, after falling to Drury University, 1-0, in the Bucs' 2016 season opener also played Signaigo Field.
- The Bucs have lost three straight games by 2-0 scores dating back to the end of the 2016 campaign, when they fell by that same score to North Alabama (10/26/2016 at home) and Union University (10/23/2016 in Jackson, Tenn.). CBU also has a five-game winless streak dating back to last season.
UP NEXT
Saint Leo concludes the trip to Memphis, Tenn., when it faces West Alabama on Sunday, Sept. 3, at 11:00 a.m. at Signaigo Field.
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.
