MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's soccer team dropped their first conference road match in three weeks on Saturday evening, falling 7-2 to the Bobcats of St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens. The meeting was the second between the schools in conference play this season, with STU taking both matches.
It took just 139 seconds for the Bobcats to take the lead on Saturday, scoring in the third minute. Fernando Arenzo found the back of the net, giving an early 1-0 edge to the Bobcats. The goal added to Arenzo's team high totals, giving him his fifth goal of the season and increasing his point total to 15.
In the 17th minute, Ave Maria responded with an equalizer. Freshman Josh Gaeng scored his first collegiate goal to even the match at one. The goal ended a scoreless drought that had lasted more than 247 minutes, and was AMU's first goal since Nikola Vinski's header against Webber on September 30.
St. Thomas would take control of the match for the remainder of the first half, scoring three goals in just over 12 minutes. The first of the three scores was an AMU own goal, while the second saw Arenzo score his second goal of the night on a penalty kick. Pablo Gil then extended STU's lead to 4-1 with an unassisted goal in the 33rd minute, giving the Bobcats a three goal lead at halftime.
Ave Maria's final goal of the night was supplied by the same person that scored the first one. Gaeng scored for the second time in the 56th minute, giving him Ave Maria's second multi-goal game of the season. It also made Gaeng the leading scorer on the AMU roster, as the freshman has posted two goals and an assist for a total of five points.
The Bobcats added three more goals in the second half to grow their lead to the final margin of five. Felipe Madero scored on a header in the 62nd minute, and Federico Landaburu added to the lead with a goal in the 74th minute. Alvaro Bode then concluded the scoring with a goal in the 86th minute.
St. Thomas outshot the Gyrenes 14-2 in the contest, with both of AMU's shots finding the back of the net, courtesy of Gaeng. Eleven of St. Thomas' 14 shots were on goal, with four of those shots stopped by AMU goalkeeper Carlos Contreras.
The Gyrenes are back at home on Wednesday for a rematch with the Warriors of Webber International University. The Warriors won in Babson Park, 3-1, on September 30. Kickoff at Gyrene Field is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
