WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's soccer team competed against the defending national champions on Wednesday, and stood toe-to-toe with the Seahawks of Keiser University in a 3-1 defeat in West Palm Beach. The Gyrenes surrendered three goals in the first 22 minutes, but then outscored the Seahawks 1-0 in the final 68 minutes of the match.
Keiser jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the match, which started with a goal in the third minute. A cross from Hedda Ejnarsson was touched in by Alicia Drott just 2:45 into the match to give the Seahawks the initial lead. The second goal of the first half was scored in the 14th minute on a perfectly executed set piece, which saw a free kick from Maxi Krug headed in by Maja Lundman. Maja Henriksson scored the third goal, which came on the second assist of the day from Ejnarsson, in the 22nd minute.
KU's 3-0 lead would last for the remainder of the first half, but the Gyrenes found their lone answer early in the second half. Just 73 seconds into the frame, a pass from Brenda Tubb found the foot of senior Emily Dalton. The forward unleashed a rocket from 25 yards out for her sixth goal of the season, a total that currently ranks third  in The Sun Conference.
Neither team was able to score in the final 43 minutes of the matchup, as the Gyrene back line was able to stymie the potent Keiser attack. After giving up ten shots in the first half, Ave Maria held Keiser to just five in the final 45 minutes. The Gyrenes were also able to turn away three corner kick opportunities from the defending national champions.
The Seahawks held an overall advantage of 15-2 in the shot column, with nine of those Keiser shots going on goal. Six of the nine shots, including each of the last five, were turned away by reigning Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Week Maddie Samuelson. Ave Maria's only other shot, with the exception of Dalton's goal, was taken by freshman Jeanine Sullivan.
Ave Maria's battle with No. 1 Keiser will help to prepare them for this weekend, when the Gyrenes face a team that ended the 2019 season as the No. 4 team in the nation - the Southeastern University Fire. The Fire will come to Ave Maria with an unblemished 5-0 record, and have outscored their opponents 25-1. Kickoff at Gyrene Field is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Saturday night.
