SAINT LEO, Fla. - The seventh-ranked Saint Leo University women's lacrosse team fell 15-11 against the #4 Embry-Riddle Eagles in an SSC bout on Wednesday evening at University Turf Stadium. With the loss, the Lions fall to 10-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play, as the Eagles improve to 12-1 and remain unbeaten in SSC action at 3-0.
 
Offensively, the Lions were led by junior Holly Hill who had a pair of goals and with a two assists for four points. Maria Palomba followed with two goals and an assist for three points as well as winning a team-high seven draws on the night. Jones scored two goals for two points.
 
Defensively, the Green & Gold were led by senior Julia Sharp who recorded five ground balls and caused two turnovers. Junior goalie Jessica Harclerode made six saves and picked up three ground balls.
 
#4 EMBRY-RIDDLE 15, #7 SAINT LEO 11
The visiting Eagles wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, with their opening goal coming 44 seconds into the game. The Lions settled in and found the back of the net less than two minutes later from the stick of Holly Hill. Three minutes later, the Lions took a 2-1 lead on senior Clara Gallapoo's seventh goal of the season. However, Embry-Riddle answered quickly, tying the game 2-2 just moments later. Both sides netted a goal in the final five minutes of the quarter, with the Eagles tying the game at three in the final seconds.
 
Saint Leo controlled a majority of the second quarter with senior Maria Palomba netting two goals. Embry-Riddle responded quickly to Palomba's first goal, but senior Ava Valenti scored to reclaim the lead. Palomba added her second goal four minutes later to double the Lions' lead. Both teams once again traded goals in the final minutes of the quarter, but Saint Leo maintained a 7-5 advantage at the halftime break.
 
The visiting Eagles began the second half strong, netting three goals in the first four minutes of the third quarter. Jones netted a goal for Saint Leo in between, but the game was deadlocked at eight as the quarter went on. After nearly seven minutes of scoreless action, Hill broke the deadlock and gave the Lions the lead once again at 9-8.
 
Embry-Riddle quickly tied the game at nine in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. The visitors struck again two minutes later to take their second lead of the night. After being held scoreless since Hill's goal, Saint Leo finally broke through and tied the game off the stick of sophomore Briana Bellando. The Lions reclaimed the lead moments later thanks to an unassisted goal from sophomore Zoey Lind. However the lead was short lived, as the Eagles quickly scored two goals to reclaim the lead. The visitors struck three more times in the final five minutes to pull away and finish off a road victory.
 
 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo returns to the University Turf Stadium for Senior Day on Saturday, April 5, as it hosts the #5 Florida Southern at 12 p.m. Saturday's senior day ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.