AVE MARIA, Fla.  – The No. 11 ranked Ave Maria University women's lacrosse team came up on the short end of a 19-2 decision on Monday vs. No. 2 Keiser University at Gyrene Field.
 
The contest marked the Gyrenes third straight against an opponent ranked among top nine nationally as well as their first game on their home turf since March 30, 2019 (a span of 723 days) – as a result of the majority of the 2020 campaign being postponed due to COVID-19.
 
Following an early goal 17 seconds into the contest by Keiser's Talia Myers – the AMU defense stiffened and did not allow another goal for over 10 minutes before Madison Andrews hit the back for the first of three first-half goals at the 19:13 mark of the opening half – increasing the margin to 2-0.
 
Keiser erupted for seven goals during a stretch of just under 10 minutes beginning with a score by Rebecca Gibson at 16:38. Andrews would add two more goals during the flurry, which would see four different players score for the Seahawks and run the lead to 8-0.
 
Freshman Orianna Eldridge broke the shutout for the Gyrenes with her fourth goal of the season at the 5:17 mark of the first.
 
Lena Finklestein notched a score for Keiser at 4:05 to bring the score to 9-1, before Emma Davis registered her team-leading seventh goal of the season to get AMU to within 9-2.  Keiser's Talia Myers scored with 21 ticks left before the break to send the teams into intermission with the Seahawks leading 10-2.
 
Keiser poured it on in the second half with nine unanswered goals to account for the final 19-2 margin.  The Gyrenes managed six shots in the final 30 minutes - four of which were on net.
 
The Gyrenes slip to 0-3 with the loss – all against ranked opponents.  Keiser moves to a perfect 8-0 with the victory.
 
Ave Maria returns to action on Thursday, March 25 at Webber International University in a 5 p.m. start in Babson Park, Fla.