LAKELAND, Fla. – In the first round of the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Men's Lacrosse Tournament, the fifth-seeded Saint Leo men's lacrosse team lost 20-15 against fourth-seeded Florida Southern on the road on Saturday afternoon.

The Mocs struck early as they built a 2-0 lead before the Lions countered with a pair of goals as sophomore Matthew Cleary and senior Michael Flores found the back of the net to tie the game 2-2. Florida Southern captured a 4-2 advantage with 6:46 to play in the opening quarter. Senior Guy Bistrow cut the Saint Leo deficit to 4-3 with an unassisted score at the 4:04-mark. The Mocs tallied three consecutive goals to take a 7-3 lead. Flores ended the first quarter scoring with his second goal of the game as the Lions trailed 7-4 at the beginning of the second frame.

Bistrow opened the second quarter with a man-up goal followed by Cleary lacing a goal as well with the Mocs only leading by a 7-6 margin, however, Florida Southern went on a four-goal run to grasp an 11-6 advantage with six minutes to play in the first half. Sandwiched in between Green and Gold scores were a trio of goals from the Mocs as they led by a 14-8 margin at halftime.

Florida Southern scored the first three goals of the third frame to extend its lead to 17-8. Cleary and sophomore Aidan Knoetgen scored as they were both assisted by Bistrow. The Mocs added two goals to end the third quarter to lead 19-10. Cleary scored in a man-up situation, however, Florida Southern answered with a goal of its own, 20-11. The Lions executed a four-goal run as sophomore Greg Palmer found the back of the net, assisted by Knoetgen, followed by Cleary scoring in a man-up goal before both Palmer scored in a player-up situation, 20-14. With 24 seconds remaining in the game, Bistrow posted a goal to cut the Lions deficit to 20-15.

Cleary led the Lions with seven total points that featured six goals and one assist while Bistrow finished with four goals and a pair of assists. Palmer recorded two goals and two assists followed by Knoetgen with one goal and a pair of assists while Flores notched two goals. Additionally, Flores went 13-for-27 at the X and grabbed eight groundballs. Sophomore Owen Wills collected four groundballs and caused one turnover while classmate Jimmy McGonigle tallied a trio of groundballs and forced two turnovers. In the net, senior Chase Strait posted eight saves in the complete-game effort.

Saint Leo earned consecutive nine-win seasons and tallied two-straight SSC Tournament berths under 19th-year head coach Brad Jorgensen.