MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's soccer team displayed a valiant defensive effort on Thursday night, but could not find a needed goal in a 1-0 loss to the No. 24 St. Thomas University Bobcats in Miami Gardens. The Gyrenes were outshot 27-6 by the nationally ranked Bobcats, but remained fully in the contest for the entire 90 minutes.
The Gyrenes and Bobcats played more than 40 minutes of scoreless soccer, before a foul gave STU an opportunity to take the lead. In the 42nd minute, Jocelyn Mendez took a free kick that snuck through everyone around the goal and found the back of the net. Mendez's goal with just over three minutes to play in the half would prove to be the only goal on Thursday night.
St. Thomas' 1-0 lead held for the entirety of the second half, but Ave Maria did admirably to keep the score 1-0. The Bobcats took 14 shots in the final 45 minutes, but the Gyrene defensive effort was able to limit STU's shots on goal to just four. However, the Gyrenes were held to two shots on goal in the second half, and were not able to convert an equalizer that would have sent the match to overtime.
In total, the Bobcats held a 27-6 advantage in shots, as well as a 11-3 edge in shots on goal. The Bobcats' shooting barrage was balanced between the two halves, taking 13 shots in the first half and 14 more in the second half. St. Thomas also had six opportunities on corner kicks, while the Gyrenes had two.
Maddie Samuelson did all she could to keep Ave Maria in the match, tying a season-high with ten saves. The performance dropped Samuelson's goals against average on the season to 1.06, which will almost certainly become the new single-season school record at the conclusion of Saturday's match. Offensively, Rachel Dalton took four of Ave Maria's five shots, with Elizabeth Nowak taking the other.
Ave Maria's season will come to a close on Saturday afternoon, when the Gyrenes host the Lions of Florida Memorial University. The Gyrenes will have an opportunity for the first 10-win season in school history, as well as the best winning percentage in school history. Additionally, the women's soccer program will honor nine members of its senior class before kickoff. Kickoff in Ave Maria is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
