SAINT AUGUSTINE, Fla.- The Ave Maria University lacrosse team began the coaching tenure of Shelby Sanderson on Saturday, travelling north for a contest with the Flagler University Saints, an NCAA Division II opponent from the Peach Belt Conference. The Gyrenes scored all six of their goals in the second half, falling to the host Saints by a final score of 21-6.

Flagler started the scoring just 61 seconds into the match, as a goal from Jordan Green was assisted by Kate Piscopo. The host Saints would rack up nine goals in the opening 15 minutes, with two goals each coming from Kaitlyn Bush and Sophia DeSimone. Piscopo added assists on three of the nine goals, and scored one herself.

The Saints added to their lead in the second quarter, putting six more in the back of the net to take a 15-0 lead into halftime. Six different Flagler players scored the goals in the second frame, while five different Saints earned an assist. In the first half, the Gyrenes were able to manage seven shots, but could not get any past Flagler's goalkeepers.

Emma Davis finally got the Gyrenes on the board less than two minutes into the second half, scoring the first of her five goals on the day. Davis' opening goal came after a Flagler save on a free position shot, getting AMU on the board. She would score again less than five minutes later, while Flagler managed three goals in the third. 

Mary Thorpe earned her first collegiate point in the fourth quarter, assisting on Davis' third goal of the evening. After Davis added her fourth goal, Ave Maria's first free position point of the season, and completed her scoring with just over five minutes to play, Abigail Seiler recorded her first collegiate goal, scoring what would be the Gyrenes' final goal with 5:03 to play.

In her first collegiate game, Hannah Shaffrey led the Gyrenes with five draw controls, and tied for the team lead among field players with three ground balls collected. Seiler and Davis both added three draw controls, and Seiler evened Shaffrey's total with three ground balls. In net, senior Kaylee Wesolowski and freshman Hannah McConologue split time, with Wesolowski making six saves to add to her existing AMU record.

Another NCAA Division II opponent awaits the Gyrenes this Saturday, but this time Ave Maria will play on their home field. The Gyrenes welcome Lynn University to Gyrene Field for the home opener, which is set for a noon start time on Saturday. It marks Ave Maria's only home game in the month of February, as the Gyrenes' next home game after playing Lynn doesn't come until the tenth-ranked Georgetown Tigers come to AMU on March 7.