TAMPA, Fla. – The #13 Saint Leo men's lacrosse team fell 15-7 to Sunshine State Conference rival #1 Tampa in a hard-fought battle at on Wednesday evening.

The Lions opened the game in the first period with a pair of goals from Ben Baker and  Brendan Stellwagen. Despite Tampa's response, the Lions continued to press forward with aggressive play and quick ball movement.

Saint Leo's midfield displayed resilience throughout the contest, with Zach Kroog finding the net in the second quarter to cut into the deficit. Aiden Knoetgen and John Guenther facilitated the offense with crisp passing and smart setups, ensuring the Lions remained in contention. At halftime, Saint Leo trailed but showed flashes of the teamwork and intensity that have defined their season.

The second half saw the Lions pick up their defensive efforts, as James Davies caused key turnovers and Andrew Graham provided stability at the faceoff X, winning 11 of 24 draws. The defensive unit, including Owen Wills and JD Henninger, worked to disrupt Tampa's offensive rhythm, collecting ground balls and forcing contested shots.

Offensively, the Lions found success in the third and fourth quarters with goals from Thomas Nelan and Maverick Chernoff, who capitalized on well-executed possessions. Stellwagen added his second goal late in the game. 

Junior goalkeeper Drew Wheeler stood tall in the net, recording nine saves against a high-volume shooting effort. 

UP NEXT

Saint Leo returns home for its next game as they will host the Eagles of Embry-Riddle for a 3 p.m. local time start Saturday, April 5th.

 For all the latest information about Saint Leo men's lacrosse, follow @SaintLeoMLAX on Twitter and Instagram.

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- SaintLeoLions.com -