BABSON PARK, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's soccer team scored twice in the final 20 minutes on Saturday afternoon, and left Babson Park with a 5-3 victory over the Warriors of Webber International University. The win moved the Gyrenes back to .500 on the season, and gave Ave Maria their second conference win of the 2020 season.
Three goals were scored in the first ten minutes of the match - one from Webber and two from the Gyrenes. In the fourth minute, a through ball from Charlee Lutton found Leah Borders, who slotted it into the back of the net for a 1-0 Warrior lead.Â
The Gyrenes answered with two goals in the span of less than two minutes. A bizarre goal started the AMU scoring in the seventh minute. A corner kick from Beth Staufenberger was headed by Webber, and the ball was fumbled into the net for an AMU goal. The Gyrenes took the lead in the ninth minute, when an arcing shot from Emily Dalton stayed just over the head of the Webber goalkeeper for the senior's seventh goal of the season.
Ave Maria and Webber traded penalty kick goals in the first half, giving the Gyrenes a 3-2 lead entering halftime. Lauren Brooks was tackled in the box in the 24th minute, and beat the goalkeeper on the ensuing shot to extend Ave's lead to 3-1. Malia Domingo answered in the 33rd minute, scoring after an Ave Maria foul to cut the AMU lead back to one.
Webber tied the match just over ten minutes into the second half. A pass from Borders was chipped over the head of the goalkeeper by Zoe Melo, tying the match at three with just under 35 minutes to play.
With the game in the balance, it was yet again Emily Dalton who came through for the Gyrenes. The senior got past the WIU defense in the 74th minute, and beat the goalkeeper for her eighth goal of the season, which would also prove to be her school-record tying third game-winning goal. Ave Maria would add an insurance goal in the 77th minute, as Dalton put a pass on the foot of Chiara O'Keefe, who scored her first collegiate goal.
Between the two teams, 37 shots and 24 shots on goal were attempted. Ave Maria held a 20-17 lead in total shots, while both teams attempted 12 shots on goal. Dalton logged ten shots, with three challenging the goalkeeper. O'Keefe was AMU's leader in shots on goal. Goalkeeper Maddie Samuelson picked up her third victory in net, making nine crucial saves for the Gyrenes.
AMU will have an opportunity to get back above .500 on Tuesday night with a home match against the Falcons of Florida College. Florida College is currently 0-2, with losses to St. Thomas and Warner. Kickoff at Gyrene Field in Ave Maria is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
