AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University lacrosse team used a surge early in the second half to claim their fourth victory of the season, a 17-8 triumph over Ottawa University on Thursday at Gyrene Field. Both the Gyrenes, who moved to 4-4 on the season, and the Braves entered the contest in the receiving votes category of the most recent NAIA Coaches' Poll.
Ottawa jumped out to an early lead on Thursday afternoon, scoring three consecutive goals in less than three and a half minutes to take a 3-1 lead. Monica Otero supplied two of the Braves' goals, while captain Ady Barraza scored another. Ave Maria's lone goal in the opening ten minutes was scored by Alexa Keeler, just over three minutes in.
From there, Ave Maria closed the first half on a 5-1 run to take a 6-4 lead into the halftime break. The five Gyrene goals came from five different players, with Aiyanah Simms, Alexis Smich, Stephanie Hilker, Emma Davis, and Alexandra Chunchukov each finding the back of the net. Smich also added an assist on the Davis goal, while Ottawa's lone goal during the run came from Otero.
Ave Maria's momentum continued into the second half, as did their balance on the offensive end of the field. Katelyn Sherman, Smich, Simms, and Keeler all scored in the opening ten minutes of the half, keying a 4-1 start to the half that allowed the Gyrenes to open up a 10-5 lead. The teams traded goals to keep the AMU lead at five, 12-7, with just over 12 minutes left. AMU then scored five unanswered goals- two from Hilker, two from Amanda Spurlin, and one from Davis - to put the game away.
Eight different Gyrenes scored in the non-conference victory, led by three goals each from Hilker, Davis, and Simms. Davis also led the Gyrenes with eight draw controls, while Smich anchored the defensive effort with six ground balls. In her first game back in net, Kaylee Wesolowski stopped five shots for AMU. The Braves were led by Otero, who scored five of Ottawa's eight goals.
The Gyrenes return to Mid-South Conference action on Saturday for their penultimate home game of the 2019 season. Ave Maria takes on Life University from Georgia, with the opening draw set for 11 a.m. at Gyrene Field in Ave Maria. Before the game, the lacrosse program will honor its 2019 senior class.
