St Leo women pull out first win of the season

After seeing their first three matches of the 2009 season cancelled, the Lions got off to a late start last Thursday with a draw against Armstrong Atlantic. Tonight, St Leo (1-0-1) was headed for the same fate against Robert Morris College (3-3-1) until senior Sarah Macko of Valrico scored the game winner from a penalty kick in the eighty-seventh minute.

The scoreline was tight, despite the Lions out shooting the Eagles 15-6 on the night. St Leo went ahead 1-0 right away in the fifth minute, when Malloree Enoch's long-range free kick skipped through a crowded penalty area and found the back of the net.

Sophomores Francesca Williams and Pia Soesemann combined on the Lions' second goal. Williams hit Soesemann with a pass that sprung her through the Eagles' defense and she tucked the ball into the net.

St Leo then relaxed a bit and after the half, Robert Morris clawed its way back into the match. The Lions had replaced starting goalkeeper, Cristina Coca, at halftime with backup Kelcee Mai and Mai was unable to stop the Eagles from getting a goal in the fifty-first minute. The Eagles drew level just minutes later when a well placed free kick beat Mai again.

The Lions pulled out the victory in the closing minutes when Macko was fouled in the penalty area and she then stepped up and converted the penalty kick for the win.

St Leo will now take this momentum into Saturday's match against Eckerd, the Lions' first Sunshine State Conference match of the season.