SAINT LEO, Fla. – The ninth-ranked Saint Leo University women's lacrosse team got off to a hot start against the Lee Flames on Monday night at Jody Luihn Family Stadium. The Lions put together another 23-goal effort in front of the home crowd. Senior attacker Jana Nuss made program history becoming just the second Lion to reach the 200 career point plateau in the Green & Gold. With the victory, the Lions improve to 7-1 overall, while Lee falls to 4-5.
 
Saint Leo's offense was paced by Jana Nuss and Sophia Wood, who each scored four goals, with Nuss also adding two assists. Holly Hill finished with five points on two goals and three assists, while Grace DeWitt chipped in three goals and Natalie Jones added two. The Lions saw 12 different players score in the win, with Anna Wood, Marina Dean, Sophia Santella, Alexis Iardella, Emma Buthorn, Samantha Overs, Ella Lowry, and Brianna Lizama all finding the back of the net. Isabella Gebinine led the way with 12 draw controls, while Jessica Harclerode earned the win in goal with two saves and Jordan Rose added one save in relief.


#9 Saint Leo 23, Lee 5

• For a second straight game, Sophia Wood put the Lions up 2-0 as Saint Leo opened the game on an 8-0 run. Six goal scorers combined for the first eight goals with Wood, and Natalie Jones scoring twice each. Holly Hill scored what proved to be the game winning goal and added three assists during the run. After one quarter the Lions held a 9-2 advantage.
• The Lions kept the momentum rolling early in the second, scoring twice in the first 40 seconds with goals from Wood and Nuss. Anna Wood added a goal off a feed from Nuss before Nuss completed her hat trick on a free-position opportunity. Alexis Iardella and DeWitt each scored later in the quarter as Saint Leo outscored Lee 6-0 in the frame to take a dominant 15-2 lead into halftime.
• Lee briefly stopped the run with an early goal, but Saint Leo quickly answered. Wood scored her fourth of the game before Marina Dean, Hill, and Emma Buthorn all found the net during a five-goal burst. DeWitt capped her hat trick and Samantha Overs added another late goal to push the Lions' lead to 21-3 entering the final quarter.
• Saint Leo added two more goals in the fourth from Ella Lowry and Brianna Lizama to extend the lead to 23-3. Lizama scored her first collegiate goal to give Saint Leo its second 23 goal game. Lee scored twice late in the quarter, including a free-position goal in the final minute, but the Lions comfortably closed out the 23-5 victory.

Inside the Numbers

• 13 Saint Leo goal scorers in the win
• 5 Games with 8+ goals in the first quarter
• 18.5 Draw controls per game, leads NCAA Division II
• 200 Career Points for Jana Nuss
• 12 Draw controls brings Isabella Gebinine season total to 70
• 0 2nd Quarter goals conceded by the Lions, third game holding the opposition to 0 goals in the second quarter

 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo hits the road for its next four games. The Lions head to the Empire State to take on Pace and Mercy, March 17 & 19. Saint Leo returns to the Sunshine State to begin SSC play heading to Florida Southern (March 25) and Rollins (March 28).