SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo University women's soccer team picked up its first victory of the season with a 1-0 blanking of the University of Alabama in Huntsville. For a second consecutive game senior transfer Ella Owen found the back of the net for what proved to be the game-winning goal. The Lions improved to 1-1-1 to open the season.

SAINT LEO 1, ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE 0
Sophomore goalkeeper Hannah Goetzer produced the first clean sheet of the season for the Green & Gold with a three save performance on five total shots. Owen continued to lead the Lions attack as she fired six of her seven shots on target, accounting for seven of Saint Leo's ten shots.

Saint Leo's aggressive nature did not go unnoticed as it was called for 14 fouls to just eight towards the Chargers.

Shots by Ainsley Meyer and Owen early in the first half in a 90 second span forced the UAH keeper to make a pair of saves early.

Goetzer's first save came in the 19th minute, on a ball to the top right to keep it scoreless.

Late in the first half, Saint Leo broke up an easy play by its opponent to keep the ball on the attack. Owen stole the ball and made her way past the keeper for the visitors to score the open net in the 38th minute. A minute later, Owen attempted to add to the lead, but her shot was saved.

The Green and Gold took control of the pace of play in the final 45 to hold off the Chargers attack limiting them to just a pair of shots. Goetzer made both of her second half saves in a three-minute span as UAH attempted to get on the board late in the final eight minutes of play.

A late foul by the visitors in the final eight seconds of play allowed the Lions the chance to walk away with a 1-0 victory.   

UP NEXT
Saint Leo hits the road for its first off campus games as it makes trips to North Carolina and Georgia. The Lions next two games will both be a battle of the Lions with the first game at Mars Hill (Sept. 16) and then heading over to Franklin Springs to take on Emmanuel (Sept. 18) in Georgia.