LAKELAND, Fla. — Florida Southern College men's lacrosse fell to No. 16 Saint Leo University 13-9 on Saturday at Berend Field. Florida Southern (0-3) managed to keep the contest competitive with a strong faceoff performance, winning 15 of 25 faceoffs, and goalie contributions with 15 saves. Saint Leo (3-0) capitalized on its offensive opportunities, scoring five goals in the second quarter to secure the lead.
The game commenced with Florida Southern gaining possession from the opening faceoff, as senior
Jacob Czyz secured the ground ball. Despite early turnovers, the team managed to keep the pressure on. Freshman
Wayde Jamieson demonstrated resilience in goal with crucial saves, holding off Saint Leo's initial attacks.
Florida Southern equalized at 1-1 with a goal by freshman
Brady Schnurr, assisted by junior
Kristian Kent. This marked the beginning of Schnurr's standout performance, as his three goals in the game were the first of his collegiate career. However, Saint Leo responded with two more goals, pushing the score to 3-1. Florida Southern's defense held firm, with key ground ball recoveries by junior
Will Rockwell, but faced challenges in clearing attempts and turnovers.
The quarter concluded with a pivotal goal by Schnurr, his second of the game, narrowing the deficit to 3-2. Florida Southern ended the first quarter close on the scoreboard, setting up a competitive continuation of the matchup.
Saint Leo initiated the second quarter with a surge, securing the first faceoff, and finding the net twice in quick succession to extend its lead. Florida Southern faced challenges early on with turnovers and missed opportunities, but maintained composure defensively, highlighted by Jamieson's saves.
Despite a continued offensive push from Saint Leo, resulting in additional goals, Florida Southern responded with a timeout to regroup. This adjustment paid off as freshman
Elijah Terry netted the first collegiate goal of his career, narrowing the gap. Following another faceoff win, junior
Maddux Walton added another score with assistance from senior
Chris Panetta, further cutting the deficit.
The quarter concluded with Florida Southern making key defensive stops and successful clear attempts, maintaining momentum despite trailing. The score at the end of the quarter was 8-4 in favor of Saint Leo.
Saint Leo started the third quarter with a goal, extending its lead. Florida Southern responded by maintaining control in faceoffs, with Czyz consistently securing possession. Despite turnovers, Florida Southern's defense, led by Jamieson's saves, held strong against multiple Saint Leo shots.
Midway through the quarter, freshman
Angus Walko scored with an assist from Terry, narrowing the gap. Florida Southern continued to press, with Kent adding another goal later in the quarter, keeping the contest competitive. The quarter ended with Saint Leo holding an 11-6 lead.
The fourth quarter began with Saint Leo capitalizing on an early extra-man opportunity, as Greg Palmer scored with assistance from Aidan Knoetgen. Florida Southern quickly responded through Terry's unassisted goal at 6:20, sparking a scoring run. Schnurr followed with another goal, narrowing the gap further, marking his third for the game and solidifying a remarkable debut in collegiate scoring.
Florida Southern continued its momentum with a goal by senior
Jack Epley, assisted by Terry, bringing them within striking distance. Saint Leo managed to add another goal courtesy of Ben Baker, but Florida Southern's defensive efforts, including multiple saves by Jamieson, kept the contest tight. The quarter concluded with Florida Southern trailing Saint Leo by a score of 13-9.
Schnurr scored three goals on four shots, contributing significantly to the team's offensive effort. Czyz excelled at the face-off circle, winning 15 of 23 face-offs to help maintain possession. Terry finished with two goals and two assists, showcasing versatility in both scoring and playmaking. Goalkeeper Jamieson recorded 15 saves, a key factor in limiting the opposing team's scoring opportunities.
Palmer led the offensive charge with three goals and one assist from five shots, all on goal, making a significant impact on the scoreboard. Knoetgen contributed with two goals and three assists, including the game-winning goal, showing his ability to play a crucial role in key moments. Drew Wheeler stood out defensively in goal, matching the nine goals allowed with nine saves from 26 shots faced, maintaining a balanced defensive effort. Anderson Smith added to the offensive efforts with one goal on two shots, both on target, while Brady Moltisanti scored once from four shots, contributing to the team's overall scoring output.
Florida Southern has an overall record of 0-3. Saint Leo, ranked No. 16 nationally, holds an overall record of 3-0.
Looking ahead, Florida Southern heads to Flagler Field in St. Augustine, Florida, for a Saturday evening match against No. 17 Flagler. The game is set to begin at 7 p.m. Feb. 21.
