AMERICUS, Ga. --- The Ave Maria women's soccer team's offense picked up from where they left off last season, tallying a pair of first half goals en route to a 4-2 win over NCAA DII Georgia Southwestern.
 
Freshman midfielder Courtney Smith (Osceola, Fla.) got the scoring started for the Lady Gyrenes (1-0, 0-0 TSC), who scored an AMU school record 44 goals last season, with a goal in the 33rd minute off a free kick by Anna Organvidez (Miami, Fla.) who picked up the assist on the score.
 
A few minutes later (38th minute) Anne Bateman (Waymart, Pa.) got on the board, finding the back of the net on a straight shot off a pass from Alexia Mazzoccone (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada).
 
With AMU leading 2-0, GSW cut the Blue and Green's lead in half with a goal off a free kick in the 67th minute.
 
Ave Maria showed some quick strike ability, coming back with goals by Gianna Vega (Davie, Fla.) in the 70th minute and Carlie Frullo (Boynton Beach, Fla.) in the 77th minute.  Nicole Rivera (Port Orange, Fla.) was credited with an assist on the Vega goal while Anne Bateman earned her third point of the match with an assist on the Frullo score.
 
Georgia Southwestern scored in the 85th minute to make the final 4-2 in favor of the Lady Gyrenes. AMU outshot GSW 12-7 in the match, led by Organvidez with four.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Francesca Singleton (Manchester, United Kingdom) (1-0) earned the win, making three saves on the afternoon.
 
The Lady Gyrenes return to the pitch Friday evening when they take on the NCAA DIII Oglethorpe University Stormy Petrels in Atlanta. The game will kick off at 5 p.m. Live stats will be provided by Oglethorpe's Athletic Department and the link will be posted on the Ave Maria Athletics Website.