Box Score SAINT LEO, Fla. – Ninth-ranked Nova Southeastern's offense was held in check most of the night, while Saint Leo poured in two second half goals to run away with a 2-0 victory Tuesday.
 
The Lions' Genevieve Gignac opened the scoring in the 48^th minute before the Sunshine State Conference's leading goal scorer Arielle Kabangu provided the insurance late in the 82^nd minute to send Nova Southeastern to its first loss since September 9, and just its second overall this season. The Sharks entered the match with a one-point edge over the Lions in the league standings, but now find themselves trailing the new SSC leaders with just one game regular season game remaining on the schedule.  
 
Both defenses showed up in a big way in the opening 45 minutes. While the Sharks and Lions each registered six shots and two corner kicks apiece, neither side was able to tally a single shot on target as the contest entered halftime knotted at 0-0.
 
The first shot on frame was finally credited less than three minutes into the second half, and was one Saint Leo certainly made count. Midfielder Natalie Melillo sped down the right side of the field and eventually linked up with Gignac for the go-ahead goal. Melillo's assist marked her ninth of the season, giving her sole possession of the SSC lead in that department.  
 
Pitted in unfamiliar territory, trailing for only the third time all season, the Sharks forced the action on the offensive end and nearly equalized in the 59^th minute after Alex Overberg's strike slipped through the grasp of the Saint Leo keeper. With the ball just inches from the goal line, though, a Lions' defender made the last-second clearance to keep the score stuck at 1-0.
 
The Sharks mustered another chance in the 80^th minute on a long ball played ahead from Gabriela Alfaro to Emma Heikkila. However, just as Heikkila geared up for the shot attempt she collided with the keeper, with no foul awarded on the play.  
 
Just as the Sharks appeared to have gained a bit of momentum in the 82^nd minute, Kabangu and the Lions completely wrestled it away and back in their favor. On the receiving end of a feed from Katie Waddell, Kabangu snuck a shot into the left corner of the net to put the match out of reach.
 
NSU will look to bounce back when it wraps up its regular season in a rescheduled matchup against nearby Lynn this Friday at 6 p.m. ET.. For complete coverage of the finale, follow along on Twitter at @NSU_WSoccer or by clicking on the provided links on the schedule page.