AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's soccer team dropped the opening game of the 2019 season on Saturday evening, losing 4-2 to Florida Memorial University at Gyrene Field. The season-opener against the Lions was a non-conference affair, and will not count in The Sun Conference's standings. The teams will meet again in conference play on September 28 in Miami Gardens.

Florida Memorial struck first on Saturday, scoring in the eighth minute. Carlos Estrada found the back of the net for the Lions to give FMU an early 1-0 lead. Ave Maria then answered less than a minute later, as a corner kick bounced from Kensley Jean Baptiste to John Gokey and finally to the head of Hernando Valencia-Parra, who scored the equalizer in the ninth minute.

From there, the Lions scored the next three goals to open up a 4-1 lead. Florida Memorial took a 2-1 lead into halftime after Jose Romero scored on a rebound that followed an FMU free kick in the 25th minute. A Rahjay Kerr goal in the 51st minute extended the Florida Memorial lead to two goals, and a free kick goal from Luiz Martinez finished the Lions' half of the scoring in the 59th minute.

The Gyrenes would inch closer in the 66th minute, but could not come any closer than 4-2. Ulises Soto scored for the first time in his AMU career, as the Immokalee native finished on a pass from Gokey, who recorded his second assist of the match. 

John Turner and Ian Wall split time in goal for the Gyrenes, with Turner playing the first half and Wall playing the second half.Turner recorded one save, while Wall stopped four shots in his Gyrene debut. Angel Garcia played the entire match for Florida Memorial, and earned the victory after logging four saves. 

Jean Baptiste led Ave Maria with three shots, but could only put one on goal. In total, Florida Memorial outshot the Gyrenes, 19-16, and put three more shots on goal, 9-6. FMU's Martinez led all players in both shots (4) and shots on goal (3).

Ave Maria will return to the field on Tuesday morning for another non-conference match, this time against the Royals of Warner University. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Royals Field in Lake Wales. Ave's next home match will come on Saturday against Brewton-Parker College. That match is the second contest in a women's and men's doubleheader, which will kick off at 11 a.m.