Highlight Video

AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's soccer team fell in a high-scoring affair on Saturday afternoon, dropping a 6-3 decision to the visiting Running Eagles of Life University. The nine combined goals scored were the most in an Ave Maria match since October 1, 2015, when the Lady Gyrenes scored ten of the matches' eleven goals in a 10-1 win over Johnson University.

Life scored the first two goals of the match within the first 20 minutes of play at a rainy AMU Soccer Field. Josie Davis and Katelynn Harbeke teamed up on both early goals, with Davis scoring the opening goal in the tenth minute, and Harbeke following with a strike of her own in the 18th minute.

A freshman got the Lady Gyrenes on the board in the 23rd minute. A cross from Alexia Mazzoccone found Ale Vazquez, who buried her first goal of the season into the back of the net, cutting the Life lead down to 2-1. Life's one goal lead would remain on the board until halftime.

In the opening 15 minutes of the second half, the Running Eagles stretched their advantage to 4-1. Harbeke scored her second goal of the day in the 50th minute, and Annaleise Wittenmyer followed suit in the 59th minute with her first goal, which came on the second assist of the day from Davis.

Returning leading goal-scorer Mazzoccone rallied the Gyrenes back within one goal with two tallies in a 90-second period. The senior scored her first goal in the 65th minute, and knocked a cross from Laura Mastandrea into the net for her second goal under two minutes later, pulling AMU back within 4-3.

However, Life would score the final two goals of the match to ensure victory. Davis scored her second goal less than two minutes after Mazzoccone had scored the third AMU goal, and Harbeke completed a hat trick with a goal in the 70th minute. 

Both goalies were busy on Saturday, with both netminders logging 90 minutes on the pitch and at least nine saves. AMU freshman Erica Larson saved nine Life shots, while her counterpart, Julia Bernhardt, stopped eleven shots. In total, the teams combined to take 42 shots, including 29 on goal.

The Lady Gyrenes are back at home on Monday afternoon for the last of a three-match homestand to begin the season. Ave Maria hosts ASA College from Miami in an exhibition match, scheduled for 2 p.m.