AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's soccer team battled against an NCAA Division II opponent on Wednesday night, and eventually fell 4-0 to the Fighting Knights of Lynn University. The result was a five-goal improvement for AMU on the 2017 result between the two teams, which saw Lynn win 10-1 in Boca Raton. 

The Fighting Knights scored two goals in each half, starting with a tally in the seventh minute from Johanna Nilsson. Lynn took a 2-0 lead into the halftime break on a goal in the 30th minute, when a deflection that bounced around the box was placed into the back of the net by the Knights.

Lynn's scoring in the second half started in the 59th minute. A rebound on a shot in the box found the foot of Anniina Sankoh, who scored just under 15 minutes into the second half. Nilsson then scored again in the 90th minute from close range to cap the scoring for the night.

Ave Maria managed six shots in the non-conference matchup, including four shots on goal. AMU's scoring opportunities were provided by Laura Spence, Hannah Dalton, Sarah Dalton, and Clare Cuesta. Sankoh and Nilsson, who combined for all four Lynn goals, attempted nine total shots with seven going on goal.

Amanda Stacy stopped seven of the eleven shots she faced in net to keep the Gyrenes within striking distance for much of the match. Kiara Burga stopped each of the four shots against her to post a shutout for the Fighting Knights.

The next four matches for the Gyrenes will come away from Ave Maria, with the first coming next Wednesday against Florida National University in North Miami Beach. It will be the second meeting all-time between the Gyrenes and the Conquistadors, with Florida National winning 3-1 in 2017. Kickoff at Goodlet Park on the east coast of Florida is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.