AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's soccer team saw their 2017 season come to an end in heartwrenching fashion on Saturday afternoon, as the Gyrenes lost 3-2 in double overtime to the Southeastern University Fire. Southeastern scored in the 106th minute to claim the victory in an intense match at AMU Soccer Field.
Ave Maria did not trail in the match until overtime, taking a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute. A free kick from Juan Carlos Bucaram found the head of Alejandro Echeverria, who placed it in the back of the net for his sixth goal of the season. Echeverria finished his senior season with 14 points, with two assists to go with six goals.
Southeastern evened the match less than ten minutes later, scoring in the 15th minute. Lucas Depaula scored the equalizer for the Fire, his second goal of the season.
Another free kick allowed AMU to retake the lead in the 31st minute. Bucaram, who had assisted on the first goal via free kick, put one in himself to give Ave Maria a 2-1 lead entering halftime. It was the seventh goal of the season for Bucaram, who ended the campaign as the Ave Maria leader in points with 18 (seven goals and four assists).
The 2-1 lead held for the Gyrenes until the 69th minute, when the Fire struck for the goal that would eventually force overtime. Caue Salgado scored the equalizer for the Fire.
AMU and Southeastern remained tied for over 35 minutes, including 15 minutes of overtime play that saw both clubs come inches away from a game-winner. Eventually, Gustavo Rodrigues provided the heroics for the Fire, scoring on a rebound in the 106th minute.
On a rain-soaked field in Ave Maria, both goalkeepers turned in sensational performances. Ave's Andrea Salomone and Southeastern's Jorge Navarrete made six saves each, including a number of acrobatic stops late in the contest to preserve what was then a tied match.
The Gyrene season comes to an end following a campaign that saw AMU win more matches than any Ave Maria team since 2011. The Gyrenes also picked up a conference win for the first time since that 2011 season. The senior class that was a major part of providing these program highs was honored at halftime of Saturday's match.
