WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. --- The Ave Maria women's lacrosse team began their 2017 campaign on Saturday afternoon and emerged victorious at first-year program Keiser. The Blue and Green edged the Seahawks 11-8.
 
Ave Maria and Keiser were tied at six at the half before the Lady Gyrene defense stepped up to help AMU outscore the Seahawks 5-2 over the final 30 minutes.
 
Ave Maria outshot Keiser 24-14 on the afternoon with 20 of AMU's shots going on frame. AMU was 13-of-17 on clear attempts and held a 23-22 advantage on ground balls. Keiser held the advantage on draw controls 13-8.
 
AMU scored the first two goals on the game from Katelyn Sherman and Sarah Wade. Alexis Smich assisted on both goals. Keiser responded with three straight to take a 3-2 advantage with 22:40 to play in opening half.
 
Two more goals by AMU, both by Diana Semegran, retook the lead for AMU. Georgia Miller and Stephanie Hilker assisted on the Semegran goals. The back-and-forth game continued when Keiser scored a pair before a third Semegran goal of the half tied the game at five with 7:33 to play in the half.
 
After a Seahawks goal, Sherman found the back of the net with 54 seconds remaining in the half to tie the game at the break.
 
In the second half, Semegran and Sherman each converted man-up opportunities for AMU to give the Lady Gyrenes an 8-6 lead. In between two Keiser goals, Smich found the back of the net for her first goal of the season.
 
The Seahawks scored with 2:25 remaining to pull within one, 9-8, before goals by Miller and an man-up goal by Semegran iced the game for AMU.
 
Semegran netted five goals on the afternoon for AMU while Sherman finished with a hat trick. Smich tallied a goal and three assists for the Lady Gyrenes. AMU caused 13 turnovers.
 
Bianca Ballarin picked up the win in net for AMU. She made three saves and allowed eight goals in the win.
 
The Lady Gyrenes are next in action on March 1 when they host Davenport at 11 a.m.