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Women's season ends at regional

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By BART O'CONNELL

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 15, 2009

ST. LEO - For the fourth consecutive year, Saint Leo's women's soccer team was selected to participate in the NCAA II South Region Tournament, an accomplishment that ranks among the most impressive for any athletic program in school history.

But for the third time in those four years, the Lions lost their first match of the tournament and were eliminated, this time 1-0 by Nova Southeastern on Thursday.
Saint Leo (9-6-1), which had beaten NSU 3-1 in the regular season and 1-0 in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament, managed two shots on goal Thursday and gave up the winner in the 61st minute off a turnover near its 18-yard box.

A few minutes later, Lions leading scorer Hannah Beard fired a shot that rattled the crossbar and post but ricocheted away. It would prove to be Saint Leo's best scoring chance the rest of the way.

Beard and Sara Macko were named to the All-SSC first team late last week. Francesca Williams and Dari Alcantara were named to the second team.

Volleyball gears up

The No. 12 volleyball team is preparing for a likely No. 2 seeding in the NCAA II South Region Tournament next, after its regular-season finale at Nova Southeastern on Saturday.

The Lions (27-3, 14-1 SSC) rebounded from last week's loss to Tampa with wins against Eckerd and Florida Southern. Against the Mocs, Saint Leo got double-doubles from Michelle Nogueras, Emily Calderon-Reyes and Bruna Rocha.

The regional tournament begins Thursday.

Men's hoops wins first

The men's basketball team concluded the season-opening Disney Tip-Off Classic with a 1-2 mark, including an 86-78 victory against Lake Superior State for its first win of the season.

The Lions lost 86-74 to Division II No. 3 Southwest Baptist and to Philadelphia University 78-67.

The men play their home opener Tuesday against Warner University at 7:30 p.m.

Jordan Prais had 24 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in the victory and averaged 15.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in the three games.

Close, but no D-I win

The Saint Leo women's basketball team lost 67-60 to Division I Central Florida, in what was by far the closest of the four D-I exhibition games played by the Lions men's and women's teams.

Willonda Windham had a game-high 17 points for the Lions, who open the regular season Tuesday at Stetson. Gekeela Clemmons had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Dominique Daniels had nine points and 10 rebounds.

Bart O'Connell can be reached at tampasport@gmail.com.

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