WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Saint Leo men's lacrosse team fell 14-10 at Palm Beach Atlantic in a non-conference game on Thursday in West Palm Beach, Fla. Tied at four at halftime, the Sailfish escaped the Lions on a six-goal second-half run.
 
Devin Sparks brought home a hat trick while Tyler Eames also contributed three points with a pair of goals and an assist. Saint Leo won several box score battles including shots taken, saves, faceoffs, and went 16-for-16 in clears but was not able to reel in the Sailfish.
 
Jordan Williams won 16-of-26 faceoffs and picked up a game-high nine ground balls. Meanwhile, Gunnar Luckoski had another big day in the cage with 15 saves.
 
Records
Palm Beach Atlantic: 1-6, 0-5 SSC
Saint Leo: 3-4, 3-2 SSC
 
How it Happened
Saint Leo jumped ahead by two but was matched by PBA. Sparks netted his first of the evening to reclaim the lead for Saint Leo at the end of the first, 3-2. Gino Riforgiato opened the second quarter extending the lead to two, assisted by Ryan Marek. The Sailfish fought back and matched the Lions again, leveling the game at four at the halftime break.

PBA notched the first lead change in the 13^th minute of the third quarter. Down 5-4, the Saint Leo offense started rocking and rolling, translating to a four-goal run, with a pair of goals coming from Eames. The offensive burst recorded the Lions' largest lead of the night at 8-5 with 5:58 left in third.
 
PBA wrapped up the third quarter on a four-goal run to take back the lead, 9-8. The hosts added to their streak with two more goals in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. Sparks put a stop to PBA's run with his third goal of the night, assisted by Eames. With the game within two goals at 11-9, the Sailfish pieced together three consecutive goals in the last five minutes. Marek netted one last goal for the Lions, assisted by Justin Williams but there would not be enough time left on the clock to add to his efforts.
 
Up Next
Following a series of schedule changes, Saint Leo will return to action on Sunday, April 25 at 3 p.m. on the road at Lynn. The Lions and Fighting Knights last met on April 17 in a conference game in Saint Leo, Fla. where the Fighting Knights escaped the Lions, 11-10.
 
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Saint Leo men's lacrosse team, 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.
 
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, limiting the number of 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.