SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo University women's soccer team continued its three-game home stand to open the 2024 season with a non-conference affair against the Eckerd College Tritons on Tuesday night. Ella Owen's first goal in the Green and Gold came at an opportune time as the graduate student found the back of the net to tie it up at 1-1. Saint Leo moved to 0-1-1 on the season with the draw while the Tritons are 1-0-2 in 2024.
 
Saint Leo maintained control of the ball throughout the majority of the first 45 however a strong Triton defense kept the Lions on the attack in the defensive end. The first half featured seven shots with Morgan Gamin firing off the first shot of the game in the fourth minute. Hannah Goetzer made seven saves on the night with two in the first half. Midway through the second half the sophomore keeper came up big for the Lions making a save on a penalty kick by the Tritons. Eckerd entered the game with the reigning SSC Defensive Player of the Week in goal but Saint Leo.

The visitors broke the scoreless draw in the 68th minute on a cross middle of the box was sent through the Lions defense and past a diving Goetzer for the 1-0 advantage.
Eckerd held the lead for 7:23 before the Lions' attack was able to find the back of the net. The Triton defense thwarted the Lions plan of attack but could not clear the ball and the home took full advantage. Coming down the middle of the field, Ella Owen took a loose ball to top of the box and spit out a pass to an incoming Gamin on the right and Gamin sent the ball right back to the front of the box for Owen to put it past the Eckerd keeper for the equalizer.

Mina Haggstrom made a final shot in the 89th minute in an attempt to break the tie but her shot was well off target.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Lions had 17 fewer shots on the night than in the season opener. Own was the only Lion with multiple shots on the night of the four to record a shot.
• Rianna Rojas made her Saint Leo debut in the final minutes of the first half. 
• Saint Leo and Eckerd played to a 1-1 draw in back-to-back matches and are currently on a T3 streak.

UP NEXT
Saint Leo closes out its three game home stand to open the 2024 season when it welcomes the University of Alabama - Huntsville to the Saint Leo Soccer Field on Friday night. Kick off schedueld for 7 p.m.