AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's soccer team overcame a driving rainstorm, a lightning delay, and the Florida National University Conquistadors on Wednesday afternoon, earning their second consecutive victory with a 2-0 triumph over FNU at Gyrene Field. The win was Ave Maria's third straight in the series with Florida National, and moved the Gyrenes back to .500 on the season at 2-2-3.

Neither team could find much of a rhythm in the early moments of the match, as a steady rain began in the third minute and did not let up for the remainder of the half. However, it was the Gyrenes that broke through. In the 33rd minute, Libby Brooks launched a cross into the box, and found the head of Liz Wolf, who snuck a header past the Florida National goalkeeper. The goal was the first of Wolf's collegiate career, and proved to be the only goal in the opening 45 minutes. 

Halftime of Wednesday's match ended up lasting two and a half hours, as lightning in Southwest Florida forced the teams off the field. The lightning finally subsided around 4:00 pm, allowing the teams to get back on the pitch for the final 45 minutes of action. While the rain continued in the second half, it subsided considerably as the match went on. 

After 20 more scoreless minutes of play, Wolf again found the back of the net to put the Gyrenes firmly in control. In the 66th minute, Brenda Tubb found Wolf 20 yards from the net. After making one defender miss, the sophomore buried a screamer in the top corner of the goal for her second goal of the afternoon. The assist was Tubb's seventh in an Ave Maria uniform, moving her alone into fourth place in school history. 

Overall, the Gyrenes outshot the Conquistadors by a 23-12 margin, and took 12 shots on goal to the visitor's seven. Wolf was the team's most active attacker with five shots attempted, while both Rachel Dalton and Lauren Brooks attempted four shots. The Gyrenes also had seven corner kick opportunities, five of which came before the lightning delay in the first half.

In her first collegiate match, Kylie Zimmerman posted a clean sheet for the Gyrenes, marking the team's fifth shutout in seven matches this season, and their fourth in a row. Zimmerman turned away all seven shots attempted by the Conquistadors, including a series of back-to-back saves from close range. Zimmerman is just the sixth goalkeeper in program history to record a shutout. 

The next match in Ave Maria's homestand comes Saturday night in prime time, when the Gyrenes battle the Bears of the University of Pikeville from Kentucky. The nightcap of a men's and women's soccer doubleheader is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Gyrene Field in Ave Maria.