SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo University women's soccer team had an eventful opening day to the 2024 season. The Lions season opener started 50 minutes late due to weather and after playing for about 17 minutes, the local area lost power causing another 20-minute day. A highly competitive match up between the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish and the Saint Leo Lions came down to the very end as the visiting team found the back of the net in the final minute of play to seal the 2-1 win in favor of the Sailfish.
 
Statistically the Lions outperformed the Sailfish with 22 shots to just nine by the visitors including a 15 shot second half. Transfer Ella Owen was one of three in the Green and Gold to play all 90 minutes as she tallied a game-high seven shots, including five on goal but was unable to find the back of the net. Freshman Reagan Rudolph came in off the bench and produced four shots in 33 minutes. Saint Leo's goal scorer on the night, Arielle Jacus entered the game off the bench and immediately made an impact tying the game at 1-1 just 18 seconds after the Sailfish opened the scoring.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
Following the resumption of play, PBA took advantage of a deep possession and connected on its first shot of the game to open the scoring. Jacus and newcomer Morgan Gamin teamed up to spoil the Sailfish's celebrations as just 18 seconds ticked off the clock and the game was tied at 1-1.
 
Over the course of the second half the Lions defense provided a front for the attack to fire off 15 shots on the PBA keeper, who made five saves. Chase McGirt and Elise McDonald contributed to the defensive efforts. Late in the second half, in the 78th minute, PBA sent a through ball to the left side of the box and crossed up the Lions keeper sending a shot towards the goal and seemingly McDonald came out of nowhere to make the block and keep the game tied at one.
 
In the final minutes of the game, the Sailfish capitalized on a misplay as the Lions defense attempted to get the ball down the field to find an open net to take the lead and seal the victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Eight Lions tallied shots on the night with Owen leading the game with seven, Reagan Rudolph had four, McDonald and captain Franziska Theus recorded three shots each, transfer and graduate student Emily McCalligett had a pair of shots. Freshman Rhyanne Pascoe and sophomore Carmen Reinerink also tallied a shot each.
• Eleven of Saint Leo's 22 shots were on goal with Owen (5) and Pascoe (3) accounting for eight of those shots on goal.
• McDonald, Owen, and Amit Beilin each played all 90 minutes.
• 20+ shots in a game marks the second such occasion in the last three games dating back to the October 25, 2023 in a 2-0 loss to Nova Southeastern.

UP NEXT
Saint Leo returns to the Saint Leo Soccer Field on Tuesday for a non-conference meeting with the Eckerd Tritons. Saint Leo and Eckerd are set to kick off at 5 p.m.