AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University lacrosse team opened up the home portion of their 2022 schedule on Saturday afternoon, hosting the Knights of Lynn University. Ave Maria's second consecutive opponent from the NCAA Division II level topped the Gyrenes, 24-6, at Gyrene Field. The match marks AMU's final game before Mid-South Conference play begins this coming week. 

Lynn scored 16 of the match's first 17 goals, a stretch that encompassed much of the first half. The lone exception in that run was provided by Emma Baughman, who scored an unassisted goal just over five minutes into the game that made the score 3-1 at the time. Emma Davis also added a goal for the Gyrenes in the first half, scoring in the final seconds of the second quarter for Ave Maria's second tally.

In the second half, the Gyrenes scored four goals, finding the back of the net twice in both the third and fourth quarters. Ave Maria's freshmen provided the scoring in the third quarter, beginning with a goal less than three minutes into the half from Abigail Seiler. Hannah Shaffrey then scored her first Ave Maria goal nearly five minutes later.

Emma Davis logged her second consecutive hat trick with a pair of goals in the fourth quarter. The senior, who passed Mackenzie Tourville for third in career goals scored in school history with her first goal of the day, scored both of her goals in the final frame without the aid of an assist. Davis was AMU's most active attacker on the day, logging five total shots with four shots on goal, and also led the Gyrenes with three caused turnovers.

Defensively, Kaylee Wesolowski played the first half in net for the Gyrenes, logging ten saves against the Lynn attack while also leading AMU with five ground balls.. Hannah McConologue came in for the second half, and snagged six saves. Ave Maria's freshmen led the effort on the draw, as Seiler earned four draw controls while Shaffrey picked up three.

After playing two talented NCAA Division II teams, the Gyrenes will play an NAIA foe for the first time on Wednesday. The game will also be Ave Maria's Mid-South Conference opener, as the Gyrenes head to Babson Park for a meeting with the Warriors of Webber International University, whom the Gyrenes handily beat twice in 2021. Opening draw on WIU's turf field is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.