AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's soccer team picked up its first conference win of the 2019 season on Wednesday night, thanks to a 5-1 victory over the Lions at Gyrene Field. The Gyrenes, who never trailed in the contest, have beaten the Lions in two consecutive seasons after losing or tying in the four previous meetings in 2016 and 2017.

Haley Ewing got the Gyrenes on the board in the fifth minute, as the freshman saw the FMU goalkeeper off her line and chipped one over her head for the first goal of the night. Ewing's goal was the second of her freshman campaign.  Caylee Feskanin then added her first career goal in the 18th minute on another chip over the goalkeeper's head.

After a goal from Florida Memorial's Thalita Azevedo in the 31st minute pulled the Lions within one, the Gyrenes would get the goal back before halftime. Following a FMU foul in the penalty box, senior Clare Jordan buried a penalty kick for her first goal of the season, as well as the first goal of her AMU career. Jordan's PK gave Ave Maria a 3-1 lead at halftime.

The Gyrenes added two more goals in the second half to pull away from the visiting Lions. Five minutes into the second half, Haley Iacona found the back of the net, beating the goalkeeper to the far corner on an assist from Feskanin. Iacona, who is now third on the team in points, scored her second goal of the season. The scoring concluded in the 72nd minute, as Sarah Dalton scored her second goal of the season on a chip.

Ave Maria held a 20-8 advantage in shots attempted, as well as a 13-3 edge in shots on goal. Meghan Precord was the most active player offensively for AMU, logging ten shots and four shots on goal. Jordan added three shots on goal, while Mia Pontarelli recorded two shots and one shot on goal in her season debut.

Amanda Stacy and Sofia Lopez combined to stop two of FMU's three shots on goal on the night. The effort moves Stacy within some history for the Gyrenes entering the last game of the season. If Stacy gives up two goals or fewer in 90 minutes in the season finale against SCAD-Savannah, the sophomore will set an AMU single-season record for goals against average.

The 2019 season for the Gyrenes concludes on Saturday morning. Ave Maria will host the Bees of SCAD-Savannah, with kickoff scheduled for 11 a.m. Before the game, the program will honor its senior class.