AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's soccer team hung around with the No. 2 team in the nation for much of Saturday night's game, but the Keiser University Seahawks eventually put away the Gyrenes, 4-1, at Gyrene Field. Despite the Seahawks being almost always in the attacking third, the Gyrenes found away to trail just 2-1 with 15 minutes to play before two late goals from the Seahawks allowed Keiser to pull away.
Keiser got on the board first, scoring in the 14th minute. A long cross from Noah Southwell bounced towards the AMU net, and Alvaro Jimenez Valera was able to get a toe on it for the goal. Jimenez Valera scored again in the 40th minute, when Rodrigo Montez Silva's shot was saved by AMU goalkeeper Rhys Lawlor, but the rebound was converted by Jimenez Valera. Jimenez Valera's two goals allowed Keiser some breathing room entering the halftime break.
A masterful goal in the 67th minute put Ave Maria back within striking distance. Keiser's Cristobal Molina Campo was assessed a yellow card, setting Ave Maria up with a free kick from 35 yards out. Nikola Vinski lined up for the free kick, and unleashed a rocket that beat the goalkeeper at the top of the net. Vinski's goal was his fifth of the season, and pulled the Gyrenes one goal away from an equalizer with just over 20 minutes to play.
The Seahawks scored twice in the final 15 minutes of the match to secure a 3-0 record in Sun Conference play. After a yellow card was assessed in the penalty area, Alejandro Varela Sabio converted from the spot to give Keiser their two goal lead back in the 80th minute. The scoring concluded in the 86th minute, when a saved free kick from Julius Fassbinder was finished from short range by Esteban Aguilera.
Saturday night's game saw the Seahawks in a near constant state of attack, as Keiser racked up 36 shots to just four for the Gyrenes. Keiser also held a 16-2 edge in shots on goal, and took 13 corner kicks to just two for the Gyrenes. It was also a physical game between the sides, with four yellow cards handed out - two to each team.
Of AMU's four shots, Josh Gaeng took two, while Vinski and Luis Ortiz were responsible for the other two. Rhys Lawlor did an admirable job keeping the Gyrenes in the match for the first 75 minutes, making 12 saves. Seven of those saves came in the first half, keeping Keiser from pulling away early in the contest, while five more kept AMU afloat in the second half.
Ave Maria is back at home on Wednesday evening against the Warriors of Webber International University. The Warriors come to Ave Maria with an 8-2-2 record, including a 2-1-2 mark in Sun Conference play. Kickoff at Gyrene Field is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
