Colleges: Lions grab late upset of No.14 Lynn

Leonardo Noguiera’s 88th minute bicycle kick grabbed a stunning victory for Saint Leo, who upset No.14 Lynn 2-1 on Saturday night at University Field, earning the Lions their first Sunshine State Conference victory of the season.

After Jonathan Glenn won a corner for the Lions, Bruce Cutler’s delivery into the penalty area was cleared to Daniel Asher, who hit and angled cross back into the area. Glenn redirected the cross, and it bounced once before Nogueira drove the ball home with his right foot.

Saint Leo (5-6-0, 1-3-0 SSC) had taken the lead in the 13th minute, as Viktor Wicknor picked up a pass from Asher just outside the penalty, and unleashed a shot the flew past diving Lynn goalkeeper Alessandro Salvatore.

The Fighting Knights (11-2-0, 2-2-0) tied the game six minutes later, though, as Paulo Vaz stole in behind the Lions defense to put himself in one-on-one on Saint Leo goalkeeper Erik Mozzo. Mozzo saved Vaz’s initial shot, but couldn’t keep the rebound out of the goal, as Vaz scored his 16th goal of the season.

Lynn pushed for a winner taking 13 second half shots, forcing Mozzo into three saves before Noguiera’s dramatic winner with two minutes to play handed the Fighting Knights their second loss in eight days in the bay area. Lynn lost 2-1 to the University of Tampa in double-overtime on October 2.

Saint Leo will try to extend its two-game winning streak on Wednesday as it hosts Florida Southern at 7 p.m. before closing the regular season with three games on the road.

Colleges: Tritons remain perfect in SSC, down Lions

Eckerd rallied from a halftime deficit to remain undefeated in Sunshine State Conference play as it defeated Saint Leo 2-1 on Tuesday night at the Turley Athletic Complex.

Daniel Asher gave the Lions a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute, capitalizing on an excellent cross by Leonardo Noqueira from the right. Asher controlled before firing his shot home from the left side of the penalty area.

Saint Leo (3-5-0, 0-2-0 SSC) had other opportunities to score in the first half, but were denied thanks to some excellent play by Tritons goalkeeper Domenic Spedaliere, who made four first-half saves.

That proved to be crucial as Eckerd (5-3-0, 3-0-0) tied the game eight minutes into the second half. Luke Sheekey, who earlier in the week was named the SSC offensive player of the week, scored off a rebound to tie the game.

Sheekey also had a hand in what proved to be the game-winner, slotting a through-ball into the penalty area for Anthony Arico, who fired home.

The Lions tried to rebound, but were unable to create any serious chance to equalize as they were unable to put a shot on Spedaliere’s goal in the final 45 minutes.

Sheekey was thrilled to have finally defeated the Lions, who hadn’t lost to their St. Petersburg-rival since the 2003-04 season.

"It is unbelievable,” Sheekey said. “3-0 in the conference for the first time, first win against Saint Leo, it means the world to me, it means the world to our coach, it means the world to our players.”

Both sides will next take to the field on Saturday, with Eckerd trying to remain undefeated in SSC play against Rollins, and Saint Leo hosting Florida Tech at University Field.