WALESKA, Ga.- The Ave Maria University lacrosse team faced their second consecutive top five team on Saturday evening, concluding their trip to Georgia against the No. 5 Eagles of Reinhardt University. Reinhardt claimed a 20-7 victory over the Gyrenes in the third all-time meeting between the schools. The home team has won all three games, with AMU winning in 2015 and Reinhardt earning wins in 2017 and 2020.
Ave Maria took their first lead of the season 36 seconds into the match, when freshman Michelle Tran scored her first collegiate goal. Reinhardt would tie the game on a Caroline Copenhaver goal 24 seconds later, and proceeded to score 13 unanswered goals in less than 14 minutes. Two goals each from Emma Davis and Aiyanah Simms would allow the Gyrenes to score four of the last five goals in the first half, but Reinhardt still held a 14-5 lead entering halftime.
The second half was less action-packed than the first, with only eight goals scored compared to the 19 in the first 30 minutes. Ave Maria's two goals in the half were both scored by Davis, while Reinhardt scored six goals. The Eagles' scores in the second half were led by two goals from Taylore Hanna, and one each from Audrey Frost, Copenhaver, Morgan McGhee, and Katie Yarish.
Davis led the Gyrenes in the losing effort, scoring four goals. Simms added two, and Tran scored one. Tran also accounted for one assist, as did fellow freshman Emma Baughman. Alexis Cirnigliaro was AMU's top player on the draw, while Kaylee Wesolowski grabbed five ground balls in addition to her 12 saves.
Reinhardt's Copenhaver led all players with six goals, while McGhee, Yarish, Hanna, and Alyssa Klinger all scored three goals. Seven of the Eagles' goals were assisted by Yarish, with McGhee and Sarah Inman each adding three. Yarish was also Reinhardt's leader in draw controls (8) and ground balls (4). In goal, Jessica Landers stopped five shots and picked up the win for the Eagles.
Next on the schedule for the Gyrenes is a meeting with an in-state Division II program. Ave Maria will take on the Sailfish of Palm Beach Atlantic University, with the opening draw scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday in West Palm Beach.
