BOCA RATON, Fla. – Junior attacker Jana Nuss set a new program record for career assists with her first assist of the game as the sixth-ranked Saint Leo women's lacrosse team dropped an 18-12 decision to #4 Lynn in an SSC bout on Saturday afternoon in Boca Raton. Nuss finished the game with two assists to bring the new program record to 53 career assists. The Lions fall to 10-2 on the season while the Fighting Knights remain undefeated at 12-0. Maria Palomoba recorded double-digit draw controls for the second time this season, finishing with 10.
 
Offensively, the Lions were led by Palomba who scored three goals and recorded an assist for four points. Nuss recorded four points of her own from two goals and two assists. Holly Hill scored two goals and recorded an assist for three points. Palomba controlled a team-high 10 draws, while three other Lions controlled multiple draws. Defensively, the Green & Gold were led by sophomore Abby Richards who picked up four groundballs and caused two turnovers. In net, Junior Jessica Harclerode made 10 saves in 60 minutes of action.
 
#4 LYNN 18, #6 SAINT LEO 12
The fourth-ranked host Fighting Knights struck early, scoring less than 90 seconds into the game. The Lions quickly responded, scoring two goals before the 10-minute mark. The Fighting Knights answered with force. Lynn scored five unanswered goals to end the first quarter with a four-goal advantage, 6-2.
 
The scoring duo of Palomba and Nuss combined for four goals in the second quarter, with Palomba tallying her fifth hat trick of the season. However, Lynn added a pair of goals of their own to take a two-goal lead into halftime, 8-6.
 
In the third quarter, junior Sophia Wood scored her 19th goal of the season. She was assisted by Nuss, who tallied her 52nd career assist, to become the Lions all-time program leader in assists. Despite the Lions coming within one of the lead, the Fighting Knights maintained their dominant performance, taking a four-goal lead into the final frame.


 
The fourth quarter began with senior Ava Valenti and junior Holly Hill each netting goals in the opening four minutes. Following Hill's goal, Lynn scored four unanswered goals and kept Saint Leo off the scoreboard for nearly 10 minutes. The SSC-foes traded goals in the final two minutes, but the fourth-ranked Fighting Knights capped off a strong win to remain undefeated.
 
 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo returns to the University Turf Stadium on Wednesday, April 2, as it hosts the Embry-Riddle Eagles for an SSC-bout starting at 7 p.m.