SAINT LEO, Fla. – The eighth-ranked Saint Leo University women's lacrosse team has earned the number five seed for the upcoming 2025 Sunshine State Conference women's lacrosse championship Presented by Pollo Compero. The three-round tournament begins this Saturday, April 19 with the Lions making the trip south to take on the four-seed #6 Lynn Fighting Knights in Boca Raton with the opening draw set for 1 p.m.

Saint Leo finished the regular season with a 3-4 SSC record. The other first round match up features the three/six seed with Embry-Riddle hosting Florida Tech. The winners of the opening round match ups will be reseeded and matched up against the top seed Tampa or the number two seed Florida Southern on April 24. The winners of the second-round match ups will advance to the conference finals at the highest remaining seed on April 27 at the highest remaining seed.

The Lions are looking to advance to the second round of the SSC tournament for a second straight season. Last year, as the three-seed the Lions hosted Embry-Riddle and earned a 15-9 victory to advance to take on the two-seed Tampa Spartans.

After an historic 2024 season, the success has transcended into individual success over the course of the season with many record-breaking performances and milestones reached. Maria Palomba's successful 2025 senior season includes setting a new SSC record for draw controls (currently at 500) and becoming not only the first Lion to record 500 career draw controls but the first in the 11-year SSC history of women's lacrosse. Palomba currently leads the team with 108 draw controls, 24 caused turnovers, 41 goals, and is tied with Jana Nuss with 14 free-position goals. Nuss is also stringing together an impressive junior season of her own as the Lions leader in points (65), shots on goal (64), and free-position shots (26). Holly Hill has been a key contributor in her first season in the Green & Gold as she is tied for the team lead in game-winning goals (2) and is second in goals (38), assists (22), and points (22).

The NCAA Division II women's lacrosse selection show is set to be aired on May 5 with the first and second round match ups taking place, May 8-10 at sites to be determined at a later date. The semifinal and final rounds will be hosted by the Mountain East Conference, Roanoke College, and the City of Salem at Kerr Stadium in Salem, Va., May 22-24.