Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's soccer team battled an NCAA Division II opponent on Thursday night, falling 4-1 to the Eckerd College Tritons. Despite being outshot 24-5 and surrendering ten shots on goal and nine corner kicks, the Gyrenes were within striking distance of the Tritons for much of the night.

Eckerd, who was playing their first game of the season, took the early lead on a goal from Pedro Galvao in the 18th minute. Galvao's goal was assisted by Agustin Pertusso, and came 17:11 into the match. 

The Gyrenes answered in the final ten minutes of the first half on a stellar goal from Kaveon Dux. Dux ripped a rocket from just inside the penalty area, beating the Eckerd goalkeeper to tie the match at one in the 37th minute. The goal was Dux's seventh of the season, a total that already puts him in the top five in single season AMU history.

With under a minute to play in the first half, the Tritons scored a goal that would give Eckerd the lead for good. On a free kick from Max Scherer in the 45th minute, Nick Reinauer headed the ball into the net, putting the Tritons up 2-1 at halftime.

A penalty kick in the 70 minute added an insurance goal for Eckerd. After an Ave Maria foul, the Tritons' Juan Tejada converted from the spot to increase the lead to two goals. The Tritons completed the scoring on a goal in the 86th minute, as Robert Carter scored on a rebound.

Thursday's match against Eckerd was the second in a streak of five consecutive contests away from home for the Gyrenes. On Saturday, Ave Maria will play a neutral site game against Missouri Baptist in Lakeland. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.