AVE MARIA, Fla- The Ave Maria University women's soccer team earned their first point of the 2017 season, drawing 1-1 with the Florida Memorial University Lions at the AMU Soccer Field on Wednesday afternoon. It was the first tie involving the Gyrenes since October 23, 2014, and broke AMU's three-match losing streak to Florida Memorial.
The teams played to a scoreless draw in the first half. Florida Memorial outshot the Gyrenes, 9-2, and put five shots on goal. However, goalkeeper Erica Larson was able to turn away all five FMU attempts to keep the game level heading into the halftime break. The Ave Maria defense was also able to deny the Lions on four corner kicks in the opening 45 minutes.
In the second half, it was Ave Maria who struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the 63rd minute. A cross from Lauren Campoe found Alexia Mazzoccone in the box, where the senior buried her fourth goal of the season. It was the 17th goal of Mazzoccone's career at Ave Maria, moving her two away from tying the school record of 19. Campoe's assist was her second, and kept her streak of involvement in AMU goals alive, as she has now scored or assisted on Ave's last five goals.
Florida Memorial forced overtime late in regulation, scoring in the 87th minute. Arelis Rodriguez struck from distance for her first goal of the season to even the match at one.
Wednesday's overtime periods saw both teams put three shots on goal, but neither club could strike for a game-winner. It was the first point of the Sun Conference season for the Lions as well as the Gyrenes.
Larson made eleven saves in the draw, moving her season total to 123 in the team's eleven matches. The freshman is eleven saves away from the school record, set during the 2013 season. She is still in the top ten in the nation in both total saves and saves per game.
Ave Maria completes the home schedule on Saturday afternoon, when the Gyrenes welcome the Bees of SCAD-Savannah to the AMU Soccer Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m., and will include Senior Day festivities, as Ave Maria honors the program's four graduating seniors.
