MOUNT VERNON, Ga.- The Ave Maria University women's soccer team came up clutch in the closing moments of their second game of the season, and will come back to Florida with a 2-0 record after a 3-2 victory over the Brewton-Parker Barons in Georgia on Saturday afternoon. The Gyrenes led 2-0 in the second half, saw that lead slip away, but then found the game-winner in the final 15 minutes to leave Brewton-Parker as a winner.

The game was scoreless for more than 40 minutes before the Gyrenes struck first in the 42nd minute. With just over three and a half minutes to play in the half, Jeanine Sullivan found the back of the net for her first goal of the season, the second of her career. Sabrina Inzunza was credited with the assist on the play, giving Ave Maria a 1-0 lead entering the halftime break.

Just over 12 minutes into the second half, Sullivan struck again to increase Ave Maria's lead to 2-0. In the 58th minute, the sophomore scored an unassisted goal, her second of the match. It was Sullivan's first multi-goal game of her collegiate career, as well as Ave Maria's first multi-goal game of the season.

Brewton-Parker would not go away, scoring twice in just over six minutes to pull the contest level. Both goals were supplied by Shelby Harvey, with the first coming in the 67th minute. The Barons then tied the match in the 73rd minute, when an assist from Alexandra Viera was placed into the net by Shelby, evening the score at two with under 20 minutes to play. 

In the 78th minute, the Gyrenes came up with what would prove to be the golden goal. Sophomore Lauren Brooks, who was second on the roster a year ago in scoring, scored her first goal of the 2021 season to give Ave Maria a 3-2 lead with 12:16 on the clock. AMU was able to keep the hosts off the scoreboard in that span, giving the Gyrenes win number two on the season.

The Gyrenes were the more aggressive team on Saturday, outshooting the Barons by a 21-9 margin. Ave Maria also held a commanding 16-4 lead in shots on goal, but a 13-save effort from Brewton-Parker goalkeeper Kelsie Stapler kept the hosts in the match. AMU's attack was led by Brooks, Sullivan, and freshman Madelyn Krause, who all attempted three shots.

Maddie Samuelson earned her second win of the season in goal, turning away two key shots from the Barons in the final ten minutes. Samuelson saved shots from Aurora Miglio in the 84th minute and Sarah De Gannes in the 89th minute to keep Ave Maria ahead in the closing moments.

After two victories in Alabama and Georgia, the Gyrenes return to Florida for a major test next week. Awaiting the Gyrenes next Saturday are the two-time defending national champion Keiser Seahawks, who again enter the season as the number one team in the nation. Kickoff in West Palm Beach in AMU's last road game before the September 1 home opener is set for 1:00 p.m.