SAINT LEO, Fla. – Saint Leo, receiving votes in the most recent United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) poll, ended up on the wrong side of the second-ranked Tampa Spartans Friday in a 24-8 finale during the Lions season home opener.
Matt Shand led the Green and Gold's offensive efforts with four points from three assists and a goal.
Liam Mueller helped the efforts with a pair of goals. Mueller tallied the first two goals for Saint Leo, both assisted by Shand. Five other Lions were able to break through the Spartan's defensive line and get on the board.
At the face,
Michael Flores went 9-for-31 while
Scyler Merriman chipped in going 1-for-3.
In the net,
Gunnar Luckoski earned 15 stops on the night.
Records
#2 Tampa Spartans 1-0
RV Saint Leo 0-1
How It Happened
Saint Leo found the back of the net once in the first quarter, tallied a pair in the second, and another in the third.
Gino Riforgiato's opening fourth-quarter goal was later joined by a three-goal run for the Lions in the middle of the fourth.
Up Next
Saint Leo will turn its attention to Wednesday, March 24 when the Lions travel to Florida Southern, who also received votes from the USILA. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. in Lakeland, Fla.
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
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Keeping Our Lions Healthy & Safe
Saint Leo University Athletics is keeping our student-athletes healthy and safe by following a number of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This includes having student-athletes tested or screened on a regular basis, traveling in smaller groups, holding competitions without fans in attendance, avoiding overnight trips, and wearing masks when not competing. These safety standards meet those set by the NCAA Division II and the Sunshine State Conference President's Council. At Saint Leo University, the COVID-19 Incident Command Team also reviews the teams' safety protocol and monitors adherence on a regular basis.
