LAKELAND, Fla. – No. 7 Florida Southern College women's lacrosse ran past No. 24 Saint Leo Wednesday night, 22-8 in the team's Sunshine State Conference opener at Berend Field. At half time, Florida Southern honored and recognized faculty and staff across campus that have impacted each student-athlete.
No. 7 Florida Southern (8-3, 1-0 SSC) won its ninth straight league opener as 10 different players scored in the 14-goal victory. The Moccasins'
Jackie Stoller led the way with seven points on four goals and three assists while
Madison Tare and
Abby McFerren tied for second most with five. Tare scored five goals as McFerren notched a hattrick and assisted two others.
Camden Frissora,
Elise Alders, and
Hannah Hale were all tied with three points for the game as Frissora scored three times, Alders two, and Hale once.
Ellie Griffin,
Kolby Cohen, and
Emma Dudley all found the back of the net on the night as the Moccasins poured in 22 goals.
With a group that won 22 of the 34 draw controls,
Lauryn Rygiel had a game-high seven ahead of
Maria Reeves (4),
Kolby Cohen (3), and
Harper Muma (3).
Olivia Manghisi scooped up a game-high five groundballs as the Moccasins had 29 throughout the four quarters.
McKenzie Gaghan moves to 8-3 in goal after playing 47 minutes against the Lions where she tallied six saves in cage.
No. 24 Saint Leo (5-4, 0-1 SSC) saw eight different goal scorers. Florida Southern's defensive core kept the Lions' attack at bay where Saint Leo's leading goal scorer, Jana Nuss averaged three goals coming into the game followed by Fiona McLaughlin (2.75) and Briana Bellando (1.88) were all held in check to just one goal a piece on the night.
The Mocs used a 7-3 first quarter to jump all over the Lions as
Madison Tare scored back-to-back goals to open the game in the first 2:58 of play for a 2-0 lead. Saint Leo cut it to one, but
Hannah Hale moved it back to a two-goal lead with her 12
th goal of the season (3-1).
Saint Leo would once again cut the deficit but a run of Moc goals by
Jackie Stoller,
Madison Tare, and
Abby McFerren consecutively pushed the home team's lead to 6-2. The two teams traded goals as McFerren found Tare for her fourth goal of the quarter and 37
th of the year as Florida Southern took the first frame 7-3.
Saint Leo opened the second quarter with two quick goals to make it a 7-5 game, but Florida Southern rallied off six goals to put the game out of reach, 13-5. Stoller, (3), McFerren,
Camden Frissora, and
Emma Dudley would all score in the run.
Just like the second, the Lions opened the third frame with a quick goal but the Mocs ripped off five straight goals to start the running clock thanks to goals from Tare, Frissora (2), McFerren, and
Ellie Griffin. Much like the first, both teams scored one more goal in the closing four minutes as Florida Southern cruised to a 19-7 advantage to close the third.
Elise Alders and
Kaylee Stoky found the net in the final quarter as Florida Southern won the fourth quarter 3-1 and took home the victory 22-8.
No. 7 Florida Southern will enjoy a week off from competition as the Moccasins gear up for a showdown with No. 5 Tampa on Good Friday (March 29). The Mocs and Spartans are scheduled for a 3 p.m. draw at Berend Field.
