SAINT LEO, Fla. – For the first time in its 15-year history, the Saint Leo University women's lacrosse team is headed to the NCAA Regional. On Sunday evening, the sixth-ranked Lions heard their name called and will travel to St. Augustine to face Young Harris in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on May 7.

The Lions have consistently set the tone early, averaging 5.12 goals in the first quarter across 18 games this season, establishing themselves as one of the most explosive starting teams in the conference.

Leading the charge is Holly Hill, who was named SSC Attacker of the Year after serving as the focal point of the Lions' offense. Hill paced Saint Leo with a team-high 111 points on 42 goals and 69 assists, rewriting both the program record book and making her mark across the conference. Alongside her, Sophia Wood earned All-SSC First Team honors after leading the team with 57 goals while adding 68 points and 54 draw controls. Jana Nuss continued her consistent production with 44 goals and 66 points, finishing just shy of her third consecutive 70-point season and earning All-SSC Second Team recognition.

In the draw circle, freshman Isabella Gebinine made an immediate impact, earning SSC Freshman of the Year honors while maintaining Saint Leo's standard of excellence in possession play. Her emergence helped the Lions control tempo throughout the season.

Defensively, Saint Leo leaned on a veteran core of All-SSC Second Team selections. Meredith Eitel and Abby Richards combined for 45 ground balls and 34 caused turnovers, helping limit opponents to a .403 shooting percentage. In goal, Jessica Harclerode anchored the unit with a 14-4 record, 131 saves, and a team-best 29 ground balls.

Harclerode also reached a historic milestone during the season, becoming the first goalkeeper in SSC history to surpass 600 career saves in a signature win over Tampa. She followed with a 12-save performance in a key road victory over Pace, helping extend Saint Leo's win streak to eight games.

The Lions' success has been further highlighted by postseason recognition, with Hill and Wood earning All-SSC First Team honors, while Gebinine, Nuss, Eitel, Richards, and Harclerode were named to the All-SSC Second Team. With a mix of high-powered offense, defensive stability, and impactful milestones, Saint Leo has once again positioned itself among the top programs in the conference.