LAKELAND, Fla. — In a nail-biter at Berend Field, Florida Southern women's lacrosse (9-1, 1-0) edged past Saint Leo (8-3, 0-1) with a thrilling 15–14 overtime victory on Wednesday night. The Moccasins clinched the win with a decisive goal in the final moments, sealing an intense clash with their conference rival.
Jenna Vetter was a standout, leading the Moccasins with nine goals on 13 shots, including three from free positions. She tied the program record for goals in a game, with the record of nine set by Haley Daleo on April 28, 2021 at Lynn.
Lindsey Tolliver added three goals and an assist, proving clutch in overtime with the game-winner.
Grace Curtin contributed two goals on three shots, showcasing precision.
Riley Rivera chipped in with a goal and two assists, facilitating scoring chances for the team. Defensively,
Isabelle Lucas led with four caused turnovers. Her sister,
Julia Lucas, picked up a team-leading three ground balls.
The action kicked off with Florida Southern's Vetter netting a free position goal just over a minute in. Saint Leo quickly fired back as Sophia Wood, assisted by Holly Hill, evened the score soon after. The Mocs regained their footing with Tolliver's player-up goal, assisted by
Kelsey Bennett, and Curtin added to the lead with an assist from
Riley Rivera. Holly Hill tied it up for Saint Leo with a free position goal, but Vetter and Curtin responded to put Florida Southern ahead. The quarter ended with Anna Wood scoring for Saint Leo, leaving the Mocs ahead 5-4.
The Lions opened the second quarter with a player-up goal from Grace DeWitt to level things. Florida Southern's Rivera swiftly reclaimed the lead, but Saint Leo's Jana Nuss struck twice to put the visitors ahead. Vetter kept the Mocs close with a goal assisted by
Kolby Cohen, and the half wrapped up with the Mocs trailing 8-7.
The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair, ending in a tense 11-11 tie. Vetter was pivotal for Florida Southern, netting three goals, including a crucial equalizer in the final seconds. Tolliver added a key goal and assist, while Saint Leo's Wood kept them competitive with two goals. Turnovers were frequent, with both teams struggling to maintain possession.
Saint Leo started the fourth with goals from Hill and Wood, but Florida Southern's Vetter answered back, hitting a milestone with her 30th goal of the season. With the clock ticking down, Vetter again found the net with a critical free position goal, tying the game at 14-14 and setting the stage for overtime.
In overtime, defenses held strong with neither team able to score initially. Florida Southern's
Julia Lucas secured a vital draw control, while Saint Leo faced setbacks with cards. Key plays came from
Natasha Newport's turnover and a clutch save by
Rebekah Bargeron. Florida Southern's attempts were thwarted by Saint Leo's goalkeeper, Jessica Harclerode, who stood firm against Tolliver.
The final overtime period saw
Audrey Cannelli grab an essential draw control, setting up Tolliver to score her 17th goal of the season for the golden goal, securing a hard-fought 15-14 victory.
Up next, Florida Southern heads to Bobby Campbell Stadium in Boca Raton to take on Lynn University. The matchup is scheduled for Saturday, March 28, at 4 p.m.
