SAINT LEO, Fla. – University Turf Stadium on the campus of Saint Leo University was the site for a highly touted USILA Top 20 men's lacrosse match up between #20 Saint Leo and #18 Florida Southern on Wednesday night. It was a tale of two halves as the Lions and netted 10 goals in the first half but just three in the second as Florida Southern won 18-13.
John Raucci led the Lions attack with five goals.
Greg Palmer and
Matthew Cleary added three goals each.
Guy Bistrow and
Ben Baker also added a goal a piece in the loss.
Chase Strait made 11 saves on the night.
#18 FLORIDA SOUTHERN 18, #20 SAINT LEO 13
- The defense came out strong to open the game as the two teams combined for seven shots over the first five minutes of action.
- Greg Palmer found the back of the net to open the scoring five minutes into the game. It took just 90 seconds for the Lions to take a 2-0 lead as Matthew Cleary tallied his first goal of the game.
- After the Mocs got on the board, goals by Palmer and Raucci put the home team up by three with just under four minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
- Florida Southern closed out the first quarter on a 3-0 run including a game tying goal with one second remaining.
- Southern grew its lead to two goals to open the second quarter. Raucci and Bistrow scored just 62 second apart to tie the game at 6-6. The teams traded goals late in the second quarter before the Lions closed out the first half on a 3-0 run. Saint Leo took a 10-8 lead into the halftime break.
- After a Florida Southern goal opened the second half, Raucci netted his fifth goal of the game to give the home team an 11-9 advantage.
- The visitors responded with a 5-0 run to turn an 11-9 deficit into a 14-11 advantage.
- With 19 second remaining in the third quarter, Palmer pulled the Lions within two as FSC took a 14-12 lead into the final quarter.
- The Lions were held to just a single goal in the final 15 minutes of play on a goal by Matthew Cleary at the 5:43 mark of the fourth.
UP NEXT
The Lions are on the road this weekend at Palm Beach Atlantic. The opening faceoff in West Palm Beach is scheduled for 3 p.m. and fans that can't make the trip to watch the Lions in person can watch the game live on the SSC Digital Network.
