AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's soccer team won a critical Sun Conference match on Wednesday evening, knocking off the Warriors of Webber International University, 2-1 in overtime at Gyrene Field. The win marked AMU's second conference victory of the season, and moved the Gyrenes into playoff position in the conference, sitting in fifth with three league matches to play.
The Gyrenes jumped on top in the first half, scoring in the 29th minute to take a 1-0 lead. Ave Maria's go-ahead goal was provided by Josh Gaeng, who found the back of the net for the fourth time this season. The goal from the sophomore would prove to be the only tally in the opening 45 minutes, as Ave Maria went to halftime with a one goal lead despite being outshot 10-6 by the Warriors in the first half.
Nearly 40 minutes would pass in the second half before Webber came up with the equalizer. In the 85th minute, with under six minutes remaining in the match, Webber's Prince James beat the AMU defense to even the score at one. Sebastian Lago was credited with the assist on the play, and the James goal would prove to be the last of regulation, sending the match to overtime - Ave Maria's first extra time match of the season.
Wednesday's match was decided in the first overtime period, as AMU leading scorer Nikola Vinski beat the goalkeeper for the game-winner. Vinski found himself in a one on one with the Webber goalkeeper, and buried his shot to give Ave Maria the victory. Vinski's winner in the 98th minute marked Ave Maria's first overtime win since the 2011 season. It also marked the second year in a row where Vinski scored the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over Webber.
Webber outshot the Gyrenes 21-9, including a 11-3 edge in the second half and overtime. In fact, the only two shots on goal managed by the Gyrenes found the back of the net, as the Warriors held an 8-2 lead in that category. The Warriors were also the more aggressive team in the match, with four Warriors being assessed with a yellow card on the night.
Rhys Lawlor was excellent for the Gyrenes in goal, making seven saves to keep the Warriors off the board for much of the night. The sophomore made two of those saves in overtime, allowing the game to remain level before Vinski's winner in the 98th minute.
Ave Maria has three conference matches remaining on the schedule, as well as a non-conference affair next week against Johnson. One win in the remaining three matches could be enough for the Gyrenes to make the conference tournament, with the first opportunity coming Saturday on the road. Ave Maria will take on the Royals of Warner University in Lake Wales, with kickoff on the Warner campus set for 7:00 p.m.
