AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's soccer team continued their flair for the dramatic on Saturday, scoring with less than two minutes left in the match to claim a 2-1 win over the visiting Thomas University Night Hawks at Gyrene Field. In eight victories this season, the Gyrenes have scored the game-winner with less than 15 minutes left three times, and have done so in the second half five times.

Thomas struck first on Saturday afternoon, scoring in the 12th minute. A long throw-in from Jana Pastorek found the foot of Raelin Lescher, and the freshman scored to give the Night Hawks an early lead. Amid a first half that had 18 combined shots and 14 combined shots on goal, Thomas' lead would only hold for just over eleven minutes, as the Gyrenes had an answer later in the first half. 

Ave Maria evened the match in the 24th minute, thanks to the youngest of the four Dalton sisters on the roster. A shot from Chiara O'Keefe richocheted off the crossbar, and landed at the foot of Rachel Dalton. Dalton buried her attempt at the top of the net, evening the score at one. Dalton's four goals on the season are tied for the most from an AMU freshman since Sarah McBride scored seven during the 2015 season. 

The match remained tied for more than 65 minutes, until a world-class goal from Ave Maria's All-American broke the deadlock. With just 83 seconds left on the clock, a bouncing ball found the foot of Emily Dalton. For the second time this week, the 2020 Honorable Mention All-American came up huge, this time drilling a rocket from more than 30 yards out that found the back of the net. Dalton's team-high seventh goal would prove to be the difference.

Much of Saturday's match was played in the attacking third for both sides. The teams combined for 34 shots and 23 shots on goal, with AMU holding advanages of 18-16 and 12-11 in those categories. Both teams had several corner kick opportunities, with six for the Night Hawks and three for the Gyrenes.

While much of the attention will go to another game-winner from Dalton, Maddie Samuelson was once again outstanding. The senior goalkeeper, fresh off shutting out No. 5 Southeastern on Thursday, made ten saves against the Night Hawks, including four saves with the match tied in the second half. Offensively, Emily Dalton was Ave Maria's most active attacker with eight shots, including four on goal. 

Riding high after two massive conference wins this week, the Gyrenes will head back on the road next week, with games against USCB and SCAD-Savannah. The first match, against the Sand Sharks of USCB, is slated for Thursday. Ave Maria defeated USCB at home last season in overtime, and will look to move to 3-0 in Sun Conference play at noon in Hardeeville, South Carolina.