AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's soccer team played one final match for the 2020-21 season on Friday night, taking on the Tigers of Edward Waters College. The Gyrenes finished their best season in school history on a high note with an 8-0 blanking of the Tigers. In the win, senior Emily Dalton concluded the best single season in AMU history by breaking the school records for points and goals, as well as tying the school record in assists.
Emily's younger sister Hannah got the Gyrenes on the board in the third minute, with Emily providing the assist. The youngest of the three Daltons on the AMU roster finished after a long shot from Emily was deflected by the goalkeeper. AMU added another tally in the 23rd minute, when a perfect pass from Chiara O'Keefe found the foot of Brenda Tubb, who finished from point blank range. The process was reversed in the 35th minute, as Tubb passed to O'Keefe, who lofted a shot over the goalkeeper's head from 40 yards out.
Dalton's assault on the record books began in earnest in the second half. In the 48th minute, after an Edward Waters foul in the box, Dalton buried the penalty kick for her record-tying 15th goal of the season. The goal also gave her 36 points on the season, breaking the record of 35 set by Victoria Johnson during the 2013 season. Dalton then added her 37th point of the season in the 54th minute, assisting (along with Tubb) on Hannah Dalton's second goal of the match. The second assist of the match gave Emily seven on the season, tying Anne Bateman's record from the 2013 season.
In the 59th minute, Dalton marked her spot as the most prolific goal scorer for a single season. A 2-on-1 saw Lauren Brooks and Dalton alone with the keeper. Brooks placed the ball on Dalton's foot, and the senior converted for her 16th goal of the season. The goal broke the record, also held by Johnson, set during the 2013 season. Dalton's season concludes with the Venice native holding the single-season school records in goals (16), points (39), assists (7), shots (91), shots on goal (40), and game-winning goals (6).
The Gyrenes weren't done there, scoring two more goals in the final 15 minutes. After assisting on Dalton's record-breaker, Lauren Brooks found the back of the net herself, beating the defense after securing a loose ball. Finally, in the 81st minute, Tubb and Haley Iacona assisted on Hannah Dalton's third goal of the game, giving the youngest of AMU's Dalton sisters her first career hat trick.
Both Emily and Hannah Dalton had six points in the win - three goals for Hannah, and two goals and two assists from Emily. Tubb added five points with a goal and three assists, which also tied a school record, last set by Johnson in 2013, for assists in a match. In goal, Ariana Dale made her first career start, and stopped both of the shots on goal against her to earn a shutout.
Ave Maria concludes the season with a 8-6 record, setting school records for wins, winning percentage, conference standing, and conference wins.
