AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University lacrosse team ran into the second-ranked team in the nation on Monday evening, and eventually fell by a 22-4 score to the Patriots of the University of the Cumberlands. The Patriots scored 20 of the evening's first 21 goals in the first three quarters, while Ave Maria outscored Cumberlands, 3-2, in the fourth and final frame.
Reegan Hensley and Aleyah Belton led the Patriots with five goals each, while Bella Ricchiazzi was Cumberlands' overall leading scorer with six points on three goals and three assists. Stephanie Meyer also added a five-point performance, scoring three goals and adding two assists. The Patriots' control of the game started in the middle of the field, as Cumberlands won 25 of the game's 30 draws. This effort was led by Trinity Brown, who collected 14 draw controls.
Abagail Seiler was the lone Gyrene with two goals, scoring Ave Maria's lone first half goal, and adding another in the fourth quarter. AMU's other two goals were scored in the final eight minutes of the game, with Orianna Eldridge scoring with under eight minutes to go, and Emma Davis scoring in the final minute. Davis also assisted on Eldridge's goal, accounting for AMU's lone assist against the national championship contending Patriots.
Mary Thorpe and Monrae Prentice led the Gyrenes with three ground balls each, while Davis, Hannah Shaffrey, and Emma Baughman all had two caused turnovers. In addition to her goal, Eldridge led the Gyrenes with three draw controls. In goal, Kaylee Wesoloski had seven saves to eclipse the 300-save mark in her career. Hannah McConologue played the final 30 minutes in net and added two more saves.
Ave Maria, after playing three consecutive games against some of the top NAIA teams in the nation, will return to the field Thursday for a meeting with an NCAA Division III foe. The Gyrenes will host the Ravens of Anderson University from Indiana, who currently hold a 2-3 record on the season and fell 19-9 to Webber on Tuesday night. Opening draw at Gyrene Field is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
