SAINT LEO, Fla. – Junior Aidan Knoetgen tallied the game-winning goal off a dish from classmate Thomas Nelan with14.7 seconds remaining in regulation as the Saint Leo men's lacrosse team conquered 18th-ranked Rockhurst at home on Sunday afternoon.

After the opening frame, the Hawks held a 4-2 lead and maintained their advantage for the majority of the game. The Green and Gold outscored Rockhurst 4-3 in the second quarter as Saint Leo trimmed the deficit to 7-6 at halftime. In the third quarter, eight total goals were scored between both teams with each recording four goals each.

In the final frame, the Lions defense was stout as it only allowed one goal on 11 shot attempts and forced four turnovers in the process. The Green and Gold went 5-for-5 on face off opportunities and 1-for-1 in extra-man opportunities.

Freshman Maverick Chernoff registered a man-up goal off a pass from Knoetgen followed by junior John Raucci collecting an unassisted goal to tie the game at 12-12. On a fastbreak after a turnover from Rockhurst, Nelan found Knoetgen just outside the circle for the game-winner.

Knoetgen led the Lions with six points that featured four goals and two assists while Nelan notched one goal and a pair of assists. Raucci finished the game with two goals and one assist. Chernoff laced a pair of goals while juniors Ben Baker and Tristan Leblanc each posted one goal and one assist. Junior Zach Kroog and freshman Anderson Smith each notched a goal. In the net, junior Drew Wheeler recorded 16 saves as he earned the complete-game victory.

Saint Leo returns to action on Saturday, February 22 as it travels to face Lincoln Memorial in a neutral site game in Savannah, Georgia, starting 1 p.m.