WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach women's lacrosse team looked to put No. 22-ranked Saint Leo on upset alert when it hosted the Lions on Saturday.
 
The Sailfish hung with the Lions for the majority of the 60 minutes as PBA (1-3, 1-3 SSC) even held a 7-6 lead at halftime. Unfortunately for the 'Fish, a big second half on offense for the Lions put the 'Fish away, 17-14.
 
Anna Laskaris and Kiki Cinotti led the 'Fish with four goals each with Cinotti adding four assists to her stat line. SLU (3-3, 2-2 SSC) frustrated PBA's Grace Bartlinski, who was the host's leading goal scorer entering the game, holding her to just one goal. Kaelin DeNeui and Sara Metheny each notched their first career goals in the game.
 
The first half was very even as the lead changed hands three times. Saint Leo struck early, getting out to a 3-1 lead through the first 10 minutes of action. PBA's offense found its rhythm in the final 15 minutes of the period. While trailing 4-2, the Sailfish rattled off a 3-0 run, kickstarted by DeNeui and punctuated by a pair of goals by Cinotti. 
 
Saint Leo did not stay behind for long, answering with a goal at the seven-minute mark. PBA was determined to keep its lead, taking every punch thrown by the Lions as Laskaris regained the lead for the 'Fish with six minutes to go. With the game tied at six, Nicole Townsend found the back of the net with 30 seconds left to give PBA a 7-6 advantage going into the break.
 
The Lions came out of halftime with attitude, scoring three unanswered goals to take a 9-7 lead. Goals from Metheny and Bartlinski tied the game at nine, but SLU pulled away with a 5-0 run and did not look back for the rest of the contest. The Sailfish struggled to get the consecutive stops they needed to make their run. PBA had hopes of a comeback as CInotti scored to cut the deficit to three, but it was too little too late for PBA as it fell, 17-14.
 
PBA outshot the Lions in the contest 34-31 in the game while dominating the draw control, 22-11. Abigal Nehring handled duties in goal for the 'Fish. She totaled six saves with six ground balls. 
 
In their next game, the Sailfish host Florida Tech on Wednesday. The game at the Rinker Athletic campus is scheduled for 7 p.m.