SAINT LEO, Fla. – The 14th-ranked Saint Leo University women's lacrosse team clinched third place in the 2024 Sunshine State Conference standings and are set to host a first-round playoff game as the number three seed. The Lions will host the sixth seeded Embry-Riddle Eagles in the SSC quarterfinals at University Turf Stadium on Saturday, April 20 with the opening draw at noon. Saint Leo finished the regular season with an 11-5 overall record and a 5-2 mark in the SSC. Embry-Riddle closed out its regular season ranked #14 by the IWLCA with an 12-5 overall record and a 3-4 SSC record.

The Lions went 6-4 in 2024 against ranked opponents including three wins against ranked opponents in the final four games of the season. Saint Leo led the SSC in women-up goals (52), women-up goals per game (3.25), saves per game (9.94), and saves (159).

 Jana Nuss led the offensive attack for the Lions as she led the team with 66 points, 22 assists, 13 free position goals, and her 44 goals were good for second on the team with two of those goals registering as the game-winning goal. Fiona McLaughlin led the team with 48 goals and was second with 52 points. She surpassed the 200-career points mark in the Lions regular season finale against #20 Florida Tech. Maria Palomba was a force in the middle of the field as she registered 88 draw controls and caused a team-best 19 turnovers. Jessica Harclerode made the start in all 16 games and played more than 850 minutes between the pipes. She made 146 saves and for a .444 save percentage and led the Lions with 68 groundballs. In the Lions regular season finale against #20 Florida Tech, she moved into third place in program history with 304 career saves.  

Embry-Riddle closed out its season with just one win over its final five games which succeeds a seven game win streak. Kenley Zeruto leads the Eagles with 81 points on 31 goals and a team-leading and SSC best 50 assists. Eliana Enners was the leading scorer for the Eagles with 59 goals and won a team best 82 draw controls. Samanatha Reich fired off 14 free position goals. Caitlin Gavin led the Eagles with 51 caused turnovers.

The NCAA Division II women's lacrosse selection show is set to be aired on May 12 with the first and second round match ups taking place May 16-18 at sites to be determined at a later date. The semifinal and final rounds will be hosted by Rollins College and Greater Orlando Sports Commission at Showalter Stadium in Winter Park, Fla. May 23-25.