Box Score SAINT LEO, Fla. (September 7, 2022) - Fresh off joining the Top 25 poll on Tuesday, Rollins showed why they are one of the elite programs in Division II, posting a 2-1 upset win over the #9 ranked Saint Leo Lions on Wednesday evening. The Tars now sit at 4-0-1 on the year, while Saint Leo suffers their first loss and drops to 4-1-0.
The top two scoring teams in the SSC added this non-conference game to the schedule earlier this summer as a test before jumping into conference play. Coming into the game, Saint Leo had scored 13 goals in four games, while the Tars had ten in four of their own.Â
Rollins jumped out to an early lead in the 8th minute. After Saint Leo gained possession in their own territory, captain
Tyler Nagy made a great defensive play to intercept a pass and give Rollins a scoring opportunity. After a couple of dribbles, Nagy fed
Georgios Koliniatis with a perfect lead pass that was sent into the bottom-left corner of the net for the first score of the game.Â
In addition to both teams' offensive prowess, defense has been a staple this season, and it showed the rest of the first half. Rollins only managed three shots on goal in the opening period, while Saint Leo wasn't close on any of their three attacks towards the net. The Tars took a 1-0 lead into the half.Â
Halfway into the second half, Saint Leo were finally able to get through the treacherous Tars defense. Alexander Mollinedo fed teammate Anel Crnac on a corner kick possession, knotting the game up at one apiece. Undeterred, Rollins went on the attack on the next possession. This time it was Koliniatis helping out his teammate
Janosch Barho with a gorgeous cross that was headed in by the giant German to put the Tars up 2-1.Â
The final twenty minutes featured relentless pressure defense from Rollins, who did not allow any good looks for the Lions. When all was said and done, the Tars had their second Top-25 upset in the last five days.Â
Next up for the Tars is a road match against at Lynn on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 pm.Â
