OTTAWA, Kan.- The Ave Maria University lacrosse team ended their 2018 season on a high note, claiming a 12-9 victory over the Braves of Ottawa University. The win over a Braves team that is receiving votes in the most recent NAIA poll snapped an eleven-game losing streak and sent the Gyrenes into the offseason on a positive note.

The Gyrenes got off to a fast start, scoring twice in the first minute of the game on goals from Katelyn Sherman and Anneliese Sawick. Ottawa scored the next two goals, tying the game at two after goals from Kiarah Thomas. Three of the game's next four goals were provided by the Gyrenes, with Georgia Miller, Stephanie Hilker, and Sherman doing the scoring. 

Ottawa responded by scoring three goals to only one for the Gyrenes in the next two minutes, tying the game at six. Ave Maria closed the first half on a 3-0 run, getting goals from Alexis Smich, Aiyanah Simms, and Sherman to take a 9-6 lead into the halftime. 

The Braves scored the first two goals of the second half to pull within one goal with 27:05 to play. The Gyrenes then put the game away with three consecutive goals over a ten-minute span. Sherman, Sawick, and Simms scored for AMU, with Sawick providing an assist on Sherman's final goal.

Sherman led the Gyrenes with five goals in the victory, as well as picking up nine ground balls. Sawick and Simms each scored two goals, and Hilker, Smich, and Miller each scored once. Goalie Andie Wagner made eight saves in her final collegiate game, and Smich led the defense with four caused turnovers. Thomas scored eight of the nine goals for the Braves.

The win was Ave Maria's second road win of the season, which came to an end on Friday.