*** UPDATE *** This game has been changed to a forfeit with a win being credited to Ave Maria due to an ineligible player(s) participating in the game for Southeastern. ***
AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's soccer team took on the No. 11 team in the nation on Saturday afternoon, and dropped a 4-0 decision to the Fire of Southeastern University. The defeat was just the second time this season where the Gyrenes were unable to score. Before the game, AMU honored Hernando Valencia-Parra and Cole Hempfling, the two members of its senior class.
Southeastern jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opening 45 minutes of the match to take control at Gyrene Field. Each of the first two goals were scored by Jake Van Der Luit, and came just 41 seconds apart. Van Der Luit first scored on a cross from Chase Hovious, then beat the AMU goalie from close range for his second goal. A goal from Banabas Ganidekam in the 38th minute added to Southeastern's lead, accounting for a 3-0 halftime margin.
The Fire concluded the scoring in the 58th minute on a goal from Eric Ugarte. A pass from Elvis Castro found the foot of Ugarte, who finished past the AMU goalkeeper to increase Southeastern's lead to 4-0. Neither team scored in the final 30 minutes of the match, keeping the final margin at four goals.
Southeastern outshot the Gyrenes 23-5 in the contest, which included a 13-1 edge in shots on goal. Van Der Luit led the attack with six shots and five shots on goal, while Jackson Darnell and Skylar Funk both added four total shots. The only other Fire player with more than one shot on goal was Ganidekam, who logged another shot on goal to go with his goal.
Ave Maria's lone shot on goal was provided by Benjamin Koerner. The other four shots from the Gyrenes came from Cameron Barford, Nelson Libbert, and Kensley Jean Baptiste. Ian Wall was a bright spot in goal for AMU making four saves without giving up a goal in 23 minutes of work.
The final home game of the season for the men's soccer team comes on Wednesday evening, when Ave Maria welcomes the Seahawks of Keiser University to Gyrene Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. as the opener to a men's and women's soccer doubleheader.
