SAINT LEO, Fla. – The tenth-ranked Saint Leo women's lacrosse team clawed its way to a fourth quarter lead before ultimately falling 10-9 in a nail-biter against the top-ranked Tampa Spartans in SSC action on Wednesday Evening. Saint Leo falls to 10-5 overall and 1-4 in conference play, while the Spartans improve to 13-1 overall and 4-1 in conference play.
 
Offensively, the Lions were led by Maria Palomba who scored three goals and recorded an assist for four points. Joselyn Storm followed with two goals and an assist for three points. Palomba led all draw takers with four draw controls. Defensively, the Green & Gold were led by senior Clara Gallapoo who recorded three groundballs. Storm followed with three groundballs and one caused turnover. Sophia Wood and Palomba both finished with two caused turnovers and two groundballs.
 
In net, junior Jessica Harclerode made nine saves and recorded two groundballs.
 
#1 TAMPA 10, #10 SAINT LEO 9
The top-ranked Spartans wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. The visitors scored three goals in the opening two minutes, including two in the span of 16 seconds in the opening minute. The Lions got on the scoreboard off the stick of senior Joselyn Storm, but the Spartans responded moments later with two more rapid fire goals. The second quarter was dominated by the Lions, with senior Maria Palomba scored two goals to cut into the lead. The scoring continued with junior Jana Nuss and sophomore Briana Bellando each scoring to tie the game at five. Tampa responded in the closing minutes to take a one-goal lead into halftime.
 
The defense controlled the majority of the third quarter as an early Spartan score was followed by nine scoreless minutes. The Spartans and Lions each scored a goal 11 seconds apart, as the visitors led by two at the end of the quarter.
 
Saint Leo began the fourth quarter with a goal from junior Sophia Wood. Moments later, Palomba netted her third goal of the night to tie the game, 8-8. Both sides continued to battle as the game crossed the halfway mark of the final quarter, Storm fired home an unassisted goal to give the Lions their first lead of the night, 9-8.
 
The Spartans refused to go away quietly, as they equalized the game at 9-9 nearly two minutes after the Lions go ahead goal. Both teams continued battling as time winded down, and Tampa broke through and reclaimed the lead with just under two minutes to play. The Lions battled to the end, but ultimately fell short in a heartbreaker.
 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo returns to the field on Saturday, April 12, as it travels to West Palm Beach to face the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish for its final SSC road match of the season. The opening draw is set for noon.