SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo University Women's soccer team survived the heat and held off Georgia College Sunday afternoon, as the Lions won 2-1 at Saint Leo University Soccer Field to pick up its second win of the season.
 
Saint Leo (2-0) won the shot count against Georgia College (0-1-1), outshooting the Bobcats 11-6.  Senior Goalkeeper Maitane Bravo made two saves on the day.  Graduate Caitlin Strong led all players with three shots in the contest.
 
Sunday's contest was only deadlocked for a short period of time, as Strong opened scoring with a right-foot touch in the 24th minute to put the Lions up 1-0 for the match's lone goal of the half.
 
The Green & Gold would extend the lead 2-0 in the 49th minute when Freshman Alex Collighan found fellow Freshman Mina Häggström for her first collegiate goal, a top shelf shot buried in the back left corner.
 
Down by two goals, GC battled back, capitalizing late in the contest as Bobcats' Sarah Mason set up Amanda Dewey in the 84th minute to cut Saint Leo's lead in half.  Even in the final minutes, Georgia College had a few critical chances to set up an equalizing shot, but a late Bobcat foul in the 90th minute led to the Lions ultimately preserving the 2-1 win.
 
"It was a tough, gritty performance against a talented GC side" said Head Coach Ged O'Connor.  While the Lions got the result they wanted, Saint Leo's longest tenured Women's soccer coach knew there was room for improvement.  "Very happy to come away 2-0 to start the season, but even more disappointed with the manner of our collective performance; we must be more accountable to each other."
 
Lions by the Numbers
1:        Goal allowed
2:        Goals scored
4:        Corner kicks
6:        Players registering a full 90 minutes
11:      Total shots
 
Saint Leo hits the road for a midweek matchup in Southwest Florida against Ave Maria; kickoff against the Gyrenes is slated for 7 p.m.
 
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