SAINT LEO, Fla. - - Saint Leo scored the final 10 goals of the game to surge past the Wilmington University women's lacrosse team, 20-7, on Wednesday afternoon in the team's final game of their Florida trip during Spring Break.
The Wildcats (1-2) closed the gap to 10-7 with three straight goals early in the second half, but the Lions (2-1) ended the draught and went on to score the next 10 goals of the game to run away with the victory.
The Lions came out and put the first four goals of the game on the board, but the Wildcats responded with three straight of their own to get within 4-3 with 15:31 to play in the first half. Megan Card scored the Wildcats' last goal of the first half to get the Wildcats to within 6-4, but the Lions scored the final two marks to head into the break leading 8-4.
The home team also came out of the break to put the first two goals of the second half on the board to lead 9-4 with 26:22 left in regulation. Gabby Spalt ended the four-goal spurt by the Lions with her second of the game, sparking a three-goal run by the Wildcats. Lashay Ross and La'Dae Boykin added goals for the Wildcats to bring the visitors to within 10-7 with 22:33 to play.
But the Lions scooped up the ensuing draw control and converted on a free position attempt to end the Wildcats' run and start a run of their own. Once on a roll, the Lions couldn't be stopped and widened the lead out to 10 goals with 9:33 left before settling on the final, 20-7.
Spalt led the Wildcats with two goals and an assist for three points while Boykin added two goals as well. Ross scored once and added an assist while Card and Chopko chipped in with the other two goals. Ross, Chopko, and Nicole Strong led the Wildcats with four ground balls while Ross added a team high four draw controls.
Maddie Hurm made 12 stops in the contest for the Wildcats while a pair of Lion netminders recorded eight saves in the win. The Lions' Kelsey Burns finished with a game-high three goals and two assists.
The Wildcats return north but have eight days off until their next contest. They will head to Bloomsburg next Thursday for another nonconference contest with a 12:00 p.m. opening draw.