SAINT LEO, Fla. –  No. 1 Seed Saint Leo Lions registered a 9-6 win over the No. 4 Seed Rollins Tars in the Sunshine State Conference Championship Tournament Semifinals on Thursday at University Turf Stadium. The Lions advance to the SSC finals undefeated at home, carrying a ten-game win streak under the direction of 2018 SSC Coach of the Year, Brad Jorgensen. The SSC Championship game is scheduled for Sunday at 1:00 p.m. remaining at University Turf Stadium.
 
Kyle Pauwels scored five goals in the 9-6 decision. Jake Gilmour, the 2018 SSC Men's Lacrosse Player of the Year, netted two goals, two assists, posting a four-point performance. In goal, Thomas Tatarian snatched 15 saves facing 33 shots.
 
The Basics
Final Score: No. 1 Seed Saint Leo Lions 9, No. 4 Seed Rollins 6
Location: Saint Leo, Fla. | University Turf Stadium
Records: SLU (14-1) | RC (7-7)
 
How It Happened...
1Q | The Lions gained a two goal lead in the opening 15 minutes of action against the Tars. Phillip Buque netted the first of the night. Rollins matched Saint Leo for a 1-1 early scoreboard. Within two minutes of each other, Pauwels found the back of the net assisted by Anthony Visintin. Matt Shand followed suit, assisted by Daniel Sparks. | Saint Leo 3-1 |
2Q | The Tars cut the Lions lead to one at 12:53. Kyle Pauwels and Jake Gilmour teamed up to add back-to-back goals at minute markers 5:52 and 00:09 with goals off Pauwels' stick, a pair of assists from Gilmour. | Saint Leo 5-2 |
3Q | Saint Leo and Rollins each took turns marking the scoreboard in the third. Pauwels tallied his fourth goal of the night assisted by Buque while a man-up. | Saint Leo 7-4 |
4Q | Rollins caught fire with five minutes left in the game. The Tars two consecutive goals slashed the Lions lead to one; 7-6 with 4:17 remaining. Kyle Pauwels gave Lions' fans a sigh of relieve as the senior attacker scored his fifth goal of the night, assisted by Charlie Kurtenbach. Jake Gilmour ensured the win with an unassisted goal. | Saint Leo 9-6 |
 
Points to Note

• Saint Leo took 28 shots, placed 20 on frame.
• The Lions won 7-of-18 faceoffs, picked up 24 ground balls while committing 15 turnovers.
• The defense cleared 14-of-18 clear attempts.
• Kyle Pauwels five goal night lifts his season count to 49 goals, 14 assist adding up to 63 points.
• Jake Gilmour's four-point performance increases his season count to 31 goals, 36 assists compiling 67 points.
• Thomas Tatarian's 15 saves brings the redshirt-junior's season save count to 210.

For Rollins

• Rollins fired 33 shots, placed 21 on frame.
• The Tars won 11-of-18 faceoffs, picked up 33 ground balls while committing 13 turnovers.
• The defense cleared 12-of-16 clear attempts.
• Connor Ashton and Jackson Colling led the offensive efforts with two goals apiece.
• Andrew Hoemann took the loss in the net after posting 11 saves.

 
Up Next
No. 1 Seed Saint Leo and No. 3 Seed Tampa will meet at University Turf Stadium on Sunday, April 29 at 1:00 p.m. in the SSC Championship Tournament Final. Last meeting on Wednesday, April 18, Saint Leo turned from Tampa with a 10-9 win off a Kyle Pauwels buzzer beater.
 
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Saint Leo men's lacrosse, be sure to 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.