LAKELAND, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's soccer team made history on Thursday night, pulling off arguably the biggest win in program history with a 2-0 victory over the fifth-ranked Fire of Southeastern University in Lakeland. In the Sun Conference opener for both clubs, the Gyrenes dealt Southeastern their first home conference loss since the 2015 season. Ave Maria was just the second team overall to beat the Fire in Lakeland over the past six seasons, where Southeastern has posted a 53-2-3 record dating back to the start of the 2016 season.
The win was also Ave Maria's first ever triumph over the Fire, in the 17th all-time meeting between the two schools. In the previous 16 meetings, the reigning Sun Conference champions outscored the Gyrenes by a total of 89-5, and Ave Maria had scored more than one goal on only one occasion - a 12-2 loss to conclude the 2017 season.
On Thursday night, the game started quietly. Over the first 45 minutes of the past, the two teams combined to take just five shots, with one shot on goal for both sides. The best scoring chance belonged to the Gyrenes, as a free kick in the closing moments of the half from Julia Chapoton was parried away by SEU goalkeeper Holly Eddins.
As the second half began, attention turned to Ave Maria goalkeeper Maddie Samuelson. The second team All-Conference selection in 2020 was sensational, turning away all seven of SEU's attempts on the night. Four of those came when Southeastern was on the attack early in the second half, but the Fire could not find the back of the net thanks to the heroic efforts of the senior.
With the game still scoreless into the 79th minute, Ave Maria finally broke through. Rachel Dalton played a pass over the top of the Southeastern defense, and found her sister, Emily Dalton. AMU's all-time leading scorer chipped her shot over the head over Eddins and into the net for the go-ahead goal, and the eventual game-winner. The game-winner was Emily Dalton's sixth goal of the season, good for first on the roster.
Only 62 seconds later, Ave Maria scored again to take full control of the match. With the ball bouncing around near midfield, Emily Dalton sent a long pass to the other end of the field. Sarah Dalton raced ahead of the three SEU defenders near the ball, and beat the goalkeeper for another Gyrene goal, giving Ave Maria a 2-0 lead that would prove to be the final score. The goal was Sarah Dalton's first of the 2021 season.
Despite a jubilant mood from the Gyrenes postgame, Ave Maria will have little time to celebrate. The Gyrenes will welcome the Night Hawks of Thomas University to Ave Maria on Saturday for the conference home opener. The match is the nightcap of a men's and women's doubleheader, and is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m., or shortly after the conclusion of the 11:00 a.m. men's match at Gyrene Field.
