PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The ninth-ranked Saint Leo University women's lacrosse team made the trip to New York for a pair of games in the Empire State. First up featured a stop in Pleasantville to take on #12 Pace University. After conceding the first goal of the game, the Lions went on a 3-goal run to take a lead they never relinquished. Behind a 12-save night in goal for senior goalie Jessica Harclerode and four-point nights from both Sophia Wood and Holly Hill the visitors left with a pleasant 13-10 victory. Saint Leo won its eighth game in a row to improve to 8-1 overall while Pace falls to 3-3 in 2026.  
 
Grace DeWitt, Natalie Jones, and Sophia Wood each scored three goals to lead the attack, with Wood adding an assist and six draw controls. Holly Hill added two goals and two assists to increase her NCAA lead to 32 assists. Sophia Santella and Emma Buthorn also found the back of the net and Jana Nuss chipped in a pair of assists. In goal, Jessica Harclerode made 12 saves to improve to 8-1.

#9 Saint Leo 13, #12 Pace 10
Pace struck first with a woman-down goal at the 9:39 mark, but Saint Leo answered quickly. Natalie Jones tied the game on a woman-up goal off an assist from Holly Hill, and Grace DeWitt followed with back-to-back scores, including another woman-up goal, to put the Lions in front 3-1 after one.

The visitors extended the lead in the second quarter. After Pace cut it to one, Saint Leo responded with scores from Jones and Sophia Wood in a 58-second span to build a 5-2 advantage. Pace scored on a woman-up chance with nine seconds left before halftime, sending the game to the break with Saint Leo ahead 5-3.

DeWitt opened the quarter with her third goal of the night as Saint Leo created separation. After Pace answered, Holly Hill, Sophia Wood, and Sophia Santella all scored during a 3-0 run to give the Lions a 9-4 lead. Pace scored twice in the final three minutes of the quarter, but Saint Leo carried a 9-6 edge into the final 15.

The Lions kept control early in the final period as Jones scored off a Wood assist, Hill added another, and Emma Buthorn converted a woman-up goal off a Hill assist to make it 12-7. Pace answered with three goals, including two woman-up scores, to trim the deficit to 12-9 and later 13-10. Wood's free-position goal with 3:08 left proved to be the final Saint Leo tally as the Lions closed out the victory.

Inside the Numbers

• 3 goals each from Grace DeWitt, Natalie Jones, and Sophia Wood
• 12 saves by Jessica Harclerode
• 6 draw controls by Sophia Wood
• 3 woman-up goals for the Lions
• 20-for-22 on clears for Saint Leo
• 8-1 record for Saint Leo after the win
• 32 points for Holly Hill on the season, leads NCAA DII, which is the third most across all three divisions

 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo closes out its trip to New York on Thursday with a stop at #25 Mercy. The opening draw in Dobbs Ferry is scheduled for 3 p.m. The Lions return to the Sunshine State to begin SSC play heading to Florida Southern (March 25) and Rollins (March 28).