SAINT LEO, Fla. – The 10th-ranked Saint Leo University women's lacrosse team exploded for 21 goals in a 16-goal victory over Assumption on Thursday night. Nine Lions found the back of the net, including six with a multi-goal effort. Freshman Grace DeWitt posted her first four-goal game as Sophia Wood recorded her fifth four-goal game this season. Saint Leo improves to 6-1 overall having won its last six games, while Assumption falls to 0-3.

Saint Leo's offense was powered by a balanced scoring attack that saw nine different Lions find the back of the net. Sophia Wood and Grace DeWitt led the way with four goals each, while Holly Hill finished with three goals and three assists for six points. Jana Nuss orchestrated the offense with two goals and a game-high five assists, finishing with seven points.

Additional scoring came from Briana Bellando (3), and Natalie Jones (2). Sophia Santella, Emma Buthorn, and Alexandra Bushey each contributed a goal to round out the Lions' scoring effort.

In the draw circle, Isabella Gebinine controlled possession throughout the night, winning a dominant 15 draw controls as Saint Leo finished with 20 draw wins. She was two shy of the program single game record held by Maria Palomba (17). In goal, Jessica Harclerode earned the victory with three saves while allowing three goals in 45 minutes, while Jordan Rose closed out the game with three saves in the final quarter.

#10 Saint Leo 21, Assumption 5
Sophia Wood wasted no time setting the tone, scoring twice in a 17-second span to put the Lions on top 2-0 early in the first quarter. Assumption answered to cut the deficit to 2-1, but Saint Leo quickly took control of the game. Holly Hill sparked the response before goals from Grace DeWitt, Briana Bellando, Sophia Santella, and another from Wood fueled a dominant run. The Lions closed the opening quarter with eight goals to take an 8-1 lead. This marks the fourth game the Lions have scored eight or more goals in the opening quarter.

Saint Leo opened the second quarter with back-to-back goals from Grace DeWitt off assists from Jana Nuss to extend the lead. After Assumption briefly stopped the run, the Lions answered with a five-goal run in the quarter. Nuss scored a woman-up goal before Wood and Bellando added to the tally, while free-position goals from Nuss and Hill in the final 1:15 sent Saint Leo into halftime with a commanding 15-2 advantage.

Assumption opened the second half with a free-position goal, but the Lions quickly regained momentum. Hill found the back of the net to start a four-goal stretch, followed by Natalie Jones scoring twice—once off a feed from Nuss and again on a pass from Hill. Grace DeWitt capped the run with a woman-up goal, helping Saint Leo carry a 19-3 lead into the fourth quarter.

Emma Buthorn opened the final period with a woman-up goal off an assist from Ella Lowry to push the Lions' lead to 20-3. Assumption added a goal midway through the quarter, but Alexandra Bushey answered with Saint Leo's final goal with 1:39 remaining. The Greyhounds scored once more in the closing seconds, but the Lions secured a convincing 21-5 victory at University Turf Stadium.
 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo's home stand continues with a visit from Lee on Monday, March 9. The opening draw is set for 5 p.m. at University Turf Stadium.