General Apr 08, 2019

Lions Ledger: Lacrosse programs host FSC to begin the week

Saint Leo wraps up its 2019 regular season schedule this week with a pair of road matches at Florida Southern and Tampa.
The Lions have won five of their last six contests including a 3-2 victory over the Mocs and a 3-2 loss to the Spartans at home.
Saint Leo edged out the Mocs 3-2 at home despite having to forfeit the No. 5 doubles due to not having enough healthy student-athletes in the lineup. The Lions returned to full strength the very next match and rattled off two more victories before falling to Tampa in their home finale.
Three Lions pairs boast seven victories on the season including Brooke Turner and Beka Wachob, Amber Lake and Nina Vattovaz and Payton Bellano and Anilise Fitzi.
Florida Southern has dropped three-straight matches heading into Tuesday's battle. The duo of Haley Goodrich and Celia Greco lead the squad with a 12-5 mark including 11-0 at No. 4 this season. The Mocs next highest duo has just six wins on the year.
Tampa has won two of its last three matches including the 3-2 victory at Saint Leo. Julia Oswald and Rachel Rosequist have a team-best 8-6 record all coming at No. 1. Valerie Rosequist and Lexi Thompson have posted an 8-7 mark this season split between No. 2 and No. 3.

Apr. 9 at Valdosta State | 5:00 PM
Where: Billy Grant Field | Valdosta, Ga.
Records: SLU 17-17 | VSU 20-17
Coverage Links: Live Stats | Video

Baseball Notes

Saint Leo continues its eight-game road trip Tuesday night with its final non-conference contest of the year at Valdosta State.
The Lions defeated the Blazers in 10 innings earlier this season at home with senior Peyton Isaacson providing the walk-off RBI as he singled to left field to end the game.
Senior Jared Morello continues to lead the offensive threat for the Lions with a .350 batting average that includes seven doubles, four triples and two home runs. He has driven in 26 runs and drawn 22 walks.
Senior Peyton Isaacson leads the team in RBI with 34 and is second in home runs with seven. Junior Jacob Reimold recently took over the home run lead as he blasted a pair against the Nova Southeastern Sharks to move to eight on the season.
On the pitching side, the Lions have seen seven different pitchers start games this season with junior Joey Antonopoulos leading the way with a 4-3 record.
Redshirt junior Ryan Nolan has seen the most action on the mound going a team-high 49.1 innings while Antonopoulos, who has seen 40.2 innings of work, leads the team in strikeouts with 47.
Valdosta State has won six of its last seven contests including taking two of three on the road at Montevallo.
Junior outfielder Logan Stephens leads the team offensively with a .377 batting average that includes five doubles and a triple. He has driven in 20 runs and scored 22 runs of his own.
Senior catcher Andrew Williamson leads the team with three home runs while junior outfielder Jowenrick Daantji leads the squad with 28 RBI.
The Blazers have sent seven different pitchers to the mound to start games this season with junior left hander Tristan Cone leading the way with a 4-0 record. Cone also leads the team in innings pitched with 56.0 while junior left hander Jonathan Gettys leads in strikeouts with 75.

Apr. 9 vs #7 Florida Southern | 7:00 PM
Where: University Turf Stadium | Saint Leo, Fla.
Records: SLU 13-0, 2-0 SSC | FSC 11-2, 3-1 SSC
Coverage Links: Live Stats | Video

Women's Lacrosse Notes

The No. 21 Saint Leo Lions rolled past the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish, 26-6, in Saturday's Sunshine State Conference game. The decision extended the program's best season start and all-time season win record to 13-0 overall, 2-0 in the SSC.
Leslie Ferguson led the Lions attack with 10 points (seven goals, three assists) followed by Kaylah Walstad with seven points (three goals, four assists).
Kaylah Walstad became the program's newest all-time assist record holder after tallying four assists at PBA. The play-maker has registered 49 career assists.
Leslie Ferguson continues to build onto the program's all-time leading scoring record, now with 130 career goals. Her 10-point performance reset the team's most points in a game record.
Sabrina Sanacore's five points earned a career milestone mark of 100 points in West Palm Beach, Fla.
On the season, Ferguson has tallied 62 points (46g, 16a) while compiling a .847 SOG% and .541 SH%.
Ashley Salvett leads the Lions at the draw with 45 DC followed by Delaney Chrisco with 41.
In the net, Erin Davis (8-0) has earned 64 saves with a .538 SV% and 7.24 GGA.
No. 7 Florida Southern downed Embry-Riddle 21-10 on Saturday to extend the Mocs' winning streak to three.
Riley Bannatyne and Grace Glinecki each recorded four goals to lead the Mocs offense. Marina Jozokos and Aubriana Benedettotallied three goals while Brenna Smith added on a pair of goals. Five additional Mocs found the back of the net.
Head Coach Kara Reber earned here 130^th FSC victory, improving her coaching record at Florida Southern to 130-24 and a 198-72 career mark.
On the season, Glinecki leads the offense with 41 points (27g, 14a) followed by four Mocs with over 30 points.
Dani Bursinger leads Florida Southern at the draw with 100 DCs.
In the net, Patricia Werker (6-1) has earned 54 saves with a .47.8 SV% and 8.69 GGA.
The IWLCA increased the Mocs' national ranking to No. 7 in Division II Monday afternoon.
Last meeting on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 in Lakeland, Fla., No. 4 Florida Southern defeated Saint Leo 18-3.

Apr. 10 at Tampa | 3:00 PM
Where: Saint Leo Tennis Center | Tampa, Fla.
Records: SLU 15-4, 5-2 SSC | UT 10-5, 2-4 SSC

Women's Tennis Notes

No. 3 Saint Leo went 2-1 last week after facing Eckerd (7-0), No. 43 Rollins (6-1) and No. 22 West Florida (3-4).
On the season, first singles Marta Vicens Miquel holds a 12-6 record followed by Kristyna Jurkova with a second singles 12-5 mark and Nina Furmaniak who has only dropped two matches with a 13-2 record at third singles.
Anna Marija Bukina looks to defend a six-match winning streak in sixth singles.
The Lions enter the week with a 32-24 doubles record (.571).
Tampa returned to the win column on Saturday, earning a 4-3 win over Florida Tech.
Vanina Iordanova holds a 9-6 first singles record for Tampa.
Caroline Lozo has only dropped two matches with a 7-2 mark in fifth singles.
The Spartans double teams have compiled a 37-24 overall record (.607).
Last meeting on Wednesday, March 28, 2018, Saint Leo defeated Tampa 7-2.

Apr. 10 vs Florida Southern | 7:00 PM
Where: University Turf Stadium | Saint Leo, Fla.
Records: SLU 7-5, 2-2 SSC | FSC 7-6, 2-2 SSC
Coverage Links: Live Stats | Video

Men's Lacrosse Notes

Saint Leo looks to snap a two-game losing skid after last week's games against Rollins and Tampa.
On the season, Charlie Kurtenbach leads the Lions' offense with 58 points (34g, 24a) followed by Philip Buque with 47 points (36g, 11a).
Jordan Williams enters the game at the Lions' starting faceoff specialist going 132-244 (.541) on the year.
Ethan Ticehurt holds a season team-high 19 caused turnovers alongside 42 ground balls followed by Julian Taylor with 11 caused turnovers and 31 ground balls.
In the net, Thomas Tatarian (5-4) has earned 121 saves for a .660 SV% while holding a 12.19 GGA.
Florida Southern also looks to put a halt to a two-game losing skid after facing Tampa and Rollins last week.
Jeff Atlas leads the Mocs' offense with 58 points (22g, 36a) followed closely by Sean Nolan (38g, 16a).
On the face, Kevin Horwitz has gone 140-234 (59.8) supported by Jeff Phelps who has won 45-77 (58.4) faceoffs.
Bryce Keaton holds a season team-high 34 caused turnovers paired with 78 ground balls.
In the net, Maxwell Freestone (7-6) has earned 140 stops for a season 51.1 SV% alongside a 11.94 GGA.
Last meeting on Wednesday, April 11 in Lakeland, Fla., Saint Leo earned a comeback 12-10 win over Florida Southern.

Apr. 11 at #12 Rollins | 3:00 PM
Where: John Tiedtke Courts | Winter Park, Fla.
Records: SLU 11-4, 2-2 SSC | RC 13-4, 2-2 SSC

Men's Tennis Notes

No. 4 Saint Leo tallied a 1-2 record last week after facing No. 25 Azusa Pacific (0-4), Eckerd (6-1) and No. 10 West Florida (2-5).
Bruno Faletto holds a 16-2 first singles record followed by Ghali Mensour in second singles and Aurel Cicoanu in third singles each with a 12-6 season mark.
The Lions doubles teams have accumulated a 28-26 season record (.519).
Rollins recorded a 1-2 record last week after facing No. 50 Embry-Riddle (6-1), No. 1 Barry (1-6) and No. 10 West Florida (2-4).
Nicolo De Fraia remains perfect in first singles with a season record of 16-0.
Guillermo Nicolas looks to defend a six-match winning streak and a 12-1 second singles record.
The Tars doubles teams have compiled a 36-13 season record (.735).
Last meeting on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, Saint Leo blanked Rollins 9-0.
Hawaii Pacific will face No. 9 Flagler on Thursday before facing No. 4 Saint Leo on Friday.
The Sharks enter the week with a two-match losing skid after meeting Oral Roberts (3-4) and Hawl'l Hilo (2-4).
Benjamin Loccisano holds a five-match winning streak with a 4-1 third singles and 5-1 fourth singles record.
Maxime Gayte also has a five-match winning streak with a 3-1 record in fourth singles along with a 4-1 mark in fifth singles.
The Sharks doubles teams have put together a 22-9 season record (.710).