AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's soccer team rallied in the second half, and ended their six-match losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Warriors of Webber International University. The Gyrenes scored twice in the final 45 minutes to avenge a September 30 loss to Webber, when the Warriors claimed a 3-1 victory in Babson Park.
Less than ten minutes into the match, the Warriors jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Jay Skelcher-Maxwell beat the goalkeeper in the tenth minute, giving the Warriors the early edge. The goal was the third of the season for the midfielder, and kept Webber on top for the entirety of the first half. The final 35 minutes of the first half passed without further scoring, keeping the visitors ahead.
Webber kept the pressure on the Gyrenes in the opening 45 minutes, taking ten shots to just three for Ave Maria. AMU goalkeeper Carlos Contreras stopped the other two shots that came on goal, while Webber's    Alex Marciulonis turned away both of Ave Maria's shots on goal.
The equalizer came for Ave Maria in the 59th minute. A free kick was taken by Raphael Rodriguez, and found the head of Nikola Vinski. The California native placed the free kick in the back of the net, tying the match at one. Rodriguez logged his fifth assist of the season with the goal, which was the third of the campaign for Vinski.
Just over 13 minutes later, the Gyrenes scored what proved to be the game-winner. It was again Vinski that came up with the clutch goal, as the junior placed a free kick in the far corner of the net for the go-ahead tally. Vinski's fourth goal of the season was the final tally of the night, as neither team could find the net in the final 18 minutes of the night.
Both teams logged more shots in the second half than the first, as Webber held an 11-7 edge in attempts over the Gyrenes. Seven of Webber's eleven shots were on goal, but Contreras posted a clean sheet in the final 45 minutes to maintain Ave Maria's lead. The second half was hotly contested, with nine fouls and three cards handed out.
In addition to Vinski's two goals, Josh Gaeng attempted four shots and two shots on goal for the Gyrenes. Three Warriors had two unsuccessful shots on goal - Daniel Perez, Eric Longhorn, and Sebastian Lago. Contreras earned the win in net for AMU with nine saves, while Webber goalkeeper Marciulonis had five saves of his own.
Ave Maria is back at home on Saturday, as the Fire of Southeastern University come to Gyrene Field. Southeastern currently sits in third place in The Sun Conference, and picked up a 2-0 victory over the Gyrenes in the first meeting this season on October 3. Kickoff in Ave Maria is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
