DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The 16th-ranked Saint Leo women's lacrosse team picked up its third-straight victory after recording an 18-12 win on the road versus 12th-ranked Embry-Riddle in Sunshine State Conference (SSC) play on Saturday afternoon.

The Eagles were able to strike first with a goal at the 12:46-mark of the first quarter until the Lions rattled off a trio of goals from freshman Briana Bellando, sophomore Jana Nuss, and junior Maria Palomba as the Green and Gold led by a 3-1 margin. Both offenses went back-and-forth as they split the next six goals and the Lions maintained a two-goal lead, 6-4, at the end of the first quarter.

Saint Leo continued to build momentum at the start of the second frame with three consecutive goals as Bellando, senior Fiona McLaughlin, and Nuss found the back of the net to give the Lions a 9-4 cushion. Sandwiched between a pair of goals from Embry-Riddle was another three-goal set from the Green and Gold, first from McLaughlin followed by Bellando and Nuss as Saint Leo held a 12-6 lead at halftime.

Sophomore Sophia Wood and McLaughlin kickstarted the third quarter with both lacing a goal to extend the Lions lead to 14-6. The Eagles scored three of the last four goals in the third quarter to trim their deficit to 15-9 heading into the final quarter. After McLaughlin blasted her fourth goal of the contest, Embry-Riddle went back-to-back to trail 16-11. Senior Cassidy Passaro found the back of the net with 4:19 remaining in the game while the Lions defense held the Eagles scoreless for the next two minutes and 20 seconds. A goal from junior Emma Hayhurst off a dish from Passaro sealed the victory for the Green and Gold with less than 30 seconds left in regulation.

McLaughlin led the offensive attack for the Lions with four goals while Nuss, Bellando, and freshman Natalie Jones each recorded a hat-trick. Wood posted a pair of goals in addition to Passaro, Palomba, and Hayhurst each registering a goal. Freshman Zoey Lind dished out two assists. Palomba also tallied nine draw controls, three groundballs, and caused three turnovers. Junior Julia Sharp recorded two groundballs and forced two turnovers. In the net, sophomore Jessica Harclerode posted nine saves and collected three groundballs in the complete-game effort.

The Lions return to action on Tuesday, April 16 as they host 20th-ranked Florida Tech in an SSC showdown at 7 p.m.