AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's soccer team put together its most dominant outing of the 2021 season on Saturday afternoon, shutting out the Florida Memorial University Lions, 5-0, in non-conference action at Gyrene Field. The Gyrenes scored just 129 seconds into the match, and never looked back en route to their fourth win of the season, and their second home shutout of the week.

Ave Maria's scoring started in the third minute, when a foul in the box gave a penalty kick to sophomore Lauren Brooks. Brooks converted from the spot for her second goal of the season, giving the Gyrenes a lead they would not relinquish. Another goal followed in the eighth minute, as returning All-American Emily Dalton got on the board for the first time. The senior, with assists to Brooks and Elizabeth Nowak, buried a shot from outside the box to give Ave Maria a 2-0 lead just 7:28 into the match.

The Gyrenes would add a third goal in the first 20 minutes, with Brooks adding her second tally of the match. Emily Dalton was responsible for the assist, as a perfect pass got Brooks behind of the FMU defense. Brooks easily beat the goalkeeper from short range, giving AMU a 3-0 lead. Neither team would score in the final 25-plus minutes of the first half, sending the Gyrenes into the break with a comfortable lead.

That lead would continue to grow early in the second half, as Ave Maria made it 4-0 less than two minutes into the frame. Brooks moved her points total to six on the day while Dalton moved hers to five, as a cross from Brooks found Dalton inside the box for her second goal and Brooks' second assist. The goal gave Dalton 19 career goals and 47 career points, placing the senior one goal back of tying the school's career goals record, and two points back of tying the career points record. The assist was the ninth of Dalton's AMU career, which evens her with Meghan Precord for second all-time. 

AMU's final goal of the day came in the 54th minute, when Rachel Dalton found the back of the net for the third time in five matches. The freshman received a perfect through ball from her sister, Hannah Dalton, and beat the goalkeeper from close range to account for her third goal of her freshman campaign.

Maddie Samuelson finished off a perfect week in net for the Gyrenes, recording more than 65 minutes of spotless play. Ariana Dale made her first appearance of the season, and kept the Lions off the board to preserve the second shutout of the weekend. For the game, Ave Maria outshot Florida Memorial by a 29-5 margin, including a 16-2 edge in shots on goal. 

Only one game is on the schedule next week for Ave Maria, who will travel to Temple Terrace on Monday for a meeting with the Falcons of Florida College. It is the first of two matches between the clubs this season, with the return trip coming on September 21, which will also be AMU's next home fixture. Kickoff on Monday night is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.