HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The sixteenth-ranked Saint Leo University men's lacrosse team took its talents to Huntsville, Ala. for a non-conference match up at Alabama-Huntsville. The Lions improved to 5-0 with a 13-12 win over the Chargers on Saturday afternoon. Five Lions scored multiple goals as the team remained undefeated to start 2025.
 
#16 SAINT LEO 13, ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE 12
Alabama-Huntsville opened the scoring just over two minutes into the game. Saint Leo equalized as Freshman Maverick Chernoff scored his fifth goal of the season. Just over a minute later, the Lions claimed the lead thanks to Junior John Raucci.
 
The Chargers struck quickly in the second quarter, scoring two goals in 35 seconds during the opening 90 seconds to retake the lead. Chernoff scored again to tie the game and Sophomore Brayden Stellwagen scored just over a minute later as the Lions reclaimed the lead. However, Alabama-Huntsville continued their trend of scoring multiple goals in short periods, as they scored twice in 1:08 to take the lead once again. Raucci scored his second goal of the afternoon at 4:07 to tie the game at five, and Junior Thomas Nelan scored nearly two minutes later, as the Lions took a one-goal lead into halftime.
 
Raucci continued his impressive day early in the third quarter, scoring Saint Leo's seventh goal of the day less than 90 seconds in. The Lions' defense proceeded to keep the Chargers out of the net for nearly five minutes before conceding two goals in 1:19 to tie the game at seven. Another Alabama-Huntsville goal 54 seconds later gave them the lead once again. Junior Tristan Leblanc equalized at the 3:09 mark and Junior Ben Baker then gave the Lions the lead 41 seconds later. Nelan then found the back of the net twice in 41 seconds, both on man-up opportunities as the Lions took a three-goal lead into the fourth quarter.
 
Leblanc gave Saint Leo a four-goal lead early in the fourth quarter on a nice assist from Raucci. The Chargers weren't going down without a fight, as they scored two quick goals to cut the Lions' lead in half as the game entered its final six minutes. The Lions' lead was once again cut in half, this time by Chris Aiello who put the Chargers within one with 3:30 to play. Baker restored the Lions' two-goal lead on a man-up goal with 1:24 to play. Alabama-Huntsville responded 33 seconds later to come within one but were unable to find an equalizer as Saint Leo held on to a one-goal win.
 
Offensively, the Lions were led by Raucci who recorded four points from three goals and an assist. Nelan recorded three points on three goals. Chernoff recorded three points from two goals and an assist. Junior Aidan Knoetgen recorded two points from two assists, and Leblanc recorded two points from two goals. Freshman Andrew Graham won 15 faceoffs.
 
Defensively, the Green & Gold were led by Juniors Jimmy McGonigle and Owen Wills, who recorded five ground balls each. Graham recorded four ground balls. Senior Shane Jones and Juniors James Davies, Michael Jensen, and Nelan each recorded three ground balls. The Lions recorded a season-high 42 total ground balls. In net, Junior Drew Wheeler saved 10 shots.
 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo will travel to St. Augustine on Saturday, March 8, to play the Flagler Saints in a non-conference game starting at 7 p.m.