AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University lacrosse team continued their streak of nationally ranked opponents on Thursday evening, facing No. 3 Lawrence Tech at Gyrene Field. The Blue Devils, who are likely to be ranked No. 1 in the next NAIA Coaches' Poll after wins over No. 2 Cumberlands and No. 1 Keiser, toppled the Gyrenes 13-6 in the non-conference matchup, with stretch of six consecutive goals for LTU in the first half proving to be crucial.

Ave Maria had the lead in the first minute of the match, with an early draw control from Orianna Eldridge leading to a chance on net for freshman Hannah Shaffrey, who scored on a free position shot to put AMU up 1-0. That lead would not hold, as the Blue Devils would tie the game less than 90 seconds later, and would proceed to score four more goals in the first quarter to open up a 5-1 lead.

Lawrence Tech continued their momentum in the second quarter, scoring five of the seven goals in the frame to take a 10-3 lead into the halftime break. Ave Maria's second goal, which broke a stretch of six Blue Devil goals in a row, was provided by freshman Abigail Seiler. After three more Lawrence Tech goals, Shaffrey scored her second goal of the game, finding the back of the net with 3:04 to go in the half. 

In the second half, Ave Maria played right with the national championship contenders, playing to an even 3-3 score in the final 30 minutes. All three of Ave Maria's goal were scored by senior Emma Davis, including two in a fourth quarter that saw the Gyrenes outscore Lawrence Tech, 2-1. Shaffrey earned her third point of the day with an assist on Davis' second goal, and Elizabeth Nowak earned her first career point by assisting on the last of Davis' goals.

Emma Davis logged a hat trick for the third game in a row for Ave Maria, and for the sixth time in her seven games this season. Davis currently ranks seventh in the nation with 25 goals on the season, which also makes Davis just the eleventh player in school history to score 25 goals in one season. The assist from Shaffrey was her 12th of the season, a total that ranks 12th in the nation and is just three shy of Ave Maria's single season record, held by Mackenzie Tourville from the 2017 season. 

Defensively, Emma Baughman had a standout game for the Gyrenes, logging five caused turnovers. Monrae Prentice also played well defensively, causing one turnover and scooping up five ground balls. Freshman Hannah McConologue played well in goal, making six saves and allowing just three goals in the game's final 30 minutes.

AMU plays yet another nationally ranked team Monday evening, as the Patriots of the University of the Cumberlands come to town. Opening draw between the Mid-South Conference foes is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Gyrene Field in Ave Maria.