Saint Leo, Fla. - Making its first-ever visit to Florida, Georgian Court University men's lacrosse opened a two-game tour of the Sunshine State Saturday with a visit to #9 Saint Leo University. In a battle of the Lions, it was the hometown felines that would prevail as St. Leo dismissed GCU. 24-8.

Georgian Court stayed close throughout the first half of action as the Lions trailed by only five goals heading into intermission. A Randy Collins tally to open the third (13:53) cut the deficit to four at 9-5 before a Saint Leo spurt of nine unanswered goals provided the eventual victors an 18-5 cushion with a 1:31 to go in the third frame.

12 different players tallied goals for Saint Leo (3-2), led by Charles Kurtenbach (Sr.-Issaquah, Wa.) with a game-high six successful scores and four assists (10 points). Philip Buque (Jr.-Whitby, Ontario) followed with four goals and three assists while Tyler Eames (Fr.-Whitby, Ontario) netted a hat trick.

As for GCU, Ryder Verdoni collected his second hat track of the young season to pace the visiting Lions. Austin Geissel, despite the result, played a sensational game in net for Georgian Court as the junior compiled 22 saves in just 39:45.

Thomas Tatarian (Gr.-Shoreham, N.Y.) denied 13 GCU shots to earn the complete-game victory in net for Saint Leo.

GCU completes its Florida visit Tuesday evening with a 7:00 p.m. showdown vs. Embry-Riddle University in Daytona Beach, Fla,