SAINT LEO, Fla. – Ella Owen gave the Saint Leo University women's soccer team a very early lead in the third minute combined with a brick wall named Hannah Goetzer in goal gave the Lions a 1-0 victory over the Embry-Riddle Eagles. Saint Leo earned its seventh win of the season and third SSC victory to improve to 7-3-2 overall and 3-2-1 in SSC. The Lions have now won seven games in a season for the first time since ending the 2022 season with eight wins. 

Goetzer made five saves including three in the first half and one in the final five minutes to keep her sixth clean sheet of 2024 in tact. Owen led the attack with three of Saint Leo's six shots on the night. Elise McDonald, Morgan Gamin and Mina Häggström all recorded a shot as Gamin and Häggström's shots were on target. 

SAINT LEO 1, EMBRY-RIDDLE 0

• The Lions attack was prominent from the opening whistle. Saint Leo provided the only score of the game with as Franziska Theus played a heavily guarded Owen who maneuvered through the Eagle's defense and found the back of the net just 2:04 into the game. 
• Embry-Riddle wasted no time attempting to find the equalizer as Goetzer was forced to first of three saves in the first half in the eighth minute. 
• Back-to-back shots by Owen and Gamin provided some excitement as the Lions attempted to add to their lead. Embry-Riddle returned the excitement as it raced to the other end of the pitch and sent a shot right on target that was saved by Goetzer. 
• Over the final 15 minutes of the opening half, Embry-Riddle poured on the shots with four off target attempts. 
• Goetzer made a pair of saves in the second half, early and late in the half. The Eagles attempted a shot in the 47th minute to the bottom left of the goal and fortunately for the home squad Goetzer was in the right spot to make the save. 
• The defenses turned up the pressure in the middle part of the second half as each team recorded a single off target shot over a 25 minute period. 
• Häggström fired off a shot for the Lions in the 79th minute as the ERAU keeper made her lone save of the second half. 
• In the final minute of play, Embry-Riddle made last ditch effort to get on the board but the shot was off target and as the time expired the Lions claimed the 1-0 victory. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Saint Leo won its first game over the Eagles since a 1-0 victory in 2019 at Saint Leo.
• With seven clean sheets on the season the Lions are tied for the third most in a single season (2023, 2011, 2010, 2004). The single season program record for clean sheets in a season is 12 set by the 2006 team. 
• Eight goals conceded is the second fewest through 12 games played, in 2004 the Lions conceded six goals through 12 games played and went on to allow a program low 12 goals. 
• Ella Owen leads the team in goals (6), points (13), shots (39), and shots on goal (23). Owen leads the SSC in shots and shots on goal and is tied for second in goals, just one behind Florida Tech's Marta LLopis (7). 

UP NEXT
Saint Leo's home stand continues this weekend with a rescheduled match up against the Lynn Fighting Knights. Saint Leo and Lynn are scheduled for a 7 .m. kickoff at Saint Leo Soccer Field.