LAKELAND, Fla. — Florida Southern (9-1-0, 4-0-0 SSC) defeated Saint Leo (3-4-2, 0-3-1 SSC) by a 5-3 margin on Wednesday (Sep. 30) at Berend Field. Florida Southern built a 4-1 halftime lead and fought a chippy match, with eight cards assessed to both squads.
The Moccasins turned an active first half into a 4-1 halftime lead, scoring twice in the opening 13 minutes and twice more late in the half. It was
Joshua Grosser to get his first goal of the season on a header from
Darcy Moffat's throw-in in the 7th minute. Grosser then assisted a ball in the box for
Tim Baierlein to top it home just five minutes later for now his eighth goal of the season, leading the squad.
The Lions pushed back with a corner kick and three shots in a five-minute stretch, including a
Ricardo Marques save, before a Mocs' mistake on an own goal in the 22nd minute cut Florida Southern's lead to 2-1. The Mocs continued to generate looks, including two
Payton Rausch shots saved by Vincent Fournier, then were rewarded by a miscue on a Lions header for another own goal in the 36th minute. Just two minutes before the end of the half,
Hector Oliver nailed home the free kick from just outside the box, upping the lead to three and netting his sixth goal of 2026. Marques added three saves in the opening frame and Florida Southern carried the 4-1 lead into halftime.
The Lions came out hot as they converted a penalty kick less than a minute into the half, and Pietro Botasso scored in the 58th minute to make it a one goal game Florida Southern had taken shots from Oliver and Moffat. Marques answered with a save on Hayata Kobayashi at 60:11, and the Mocs continued to create chances through
Luciano Schiaffini, who had one shot saved and another go right, before
Santiago Luna forced another save in the 84th minute. The dagger goal came from
Chandler Crawshaw, who made an incredible run in his offensive half, capped off by a shot just inside the 18 the was placed perfectly in the bottom corner for his first goal of the season.
The closing stretch grew physical, with Florida Southern receiving yellow cards to
Max Muth and Schiaffini, and a second yellow card to Schiaffini at just two minutes before the final whistle. The Lions put their final shot out top right in the last minute, and the Moccasins finished off the 5-3 win.
Grosser finished with a goal and an assist for three points. Oliver scored the game-winning goal and led the Moccasins with three shots, including two on goal. Crawshaw scored on his only shot. Baierlein added a goal on two shots.
Nine total cards were given on the night, with each team receiving four yellows each. There also were 28 total shots taken, with FSC leading 15-13 in the category, and the Mocs advantage in shots on target (9-6).
The Mocs look to continue their winning ways in a road test at Rollins on Saturday (Oct. 3). First kick in Winter Park is set for 6 p.m.
