ANN ARBOR, Mich.- The Ave Maria University women's soccer team had their most active offensive game of the season to date on Monday, but could not find the winning goal in a scoreless draw with the Cardinals of Concordia University. The scoreless draw was the second 0-0 match of the season for the Gyrenes, and marked the first road point of the season for Ave Maria, who fell to Middle Georgia in their only other road match.
The Gyrenes were aggressive from the beginning of the match, challenging the Concordia keeper five times in the first 45 minutes. Ave Maria attempted ten total shots in the first half, but were not able to get any past Cardinals goalkeeper Hayley Jacobson. On the other end of the field, the Gyrene defense did an excellent job keeping shots away from Maddie Samuelson, blocking three shots, while Samuelson collected the only Cardinal attempt on goal.
Ave Maria kept up the pressure in the second half, putting seven more shots on goal. Four of those shots came in the final ten minutes as the Gyrenes searched for the goal that would break the deadlock. Samuelson did her part to ensure AMU left Ann Arbor with a point, turning away Concordia's only real attempt of the half, which came from Taia Vega in the 54th minute.
In total, the Gyrenes launched 20 shots on Monday, 12 of which challenged the Concordia goalkeeper. Ave Maria's defense did an excellent job limiting Concordia's chances, as the Cardinals attempted just two shots on goal and ten shots total. Ave Maria also had their opportunities on set pieces, with the Gyrenes having five corner kick opportunities to just one for Concordia, who earned their first point of the 2022 season.
Rachel Dalton was Ave Maria's most active attacker in the draw, as the sophomore attempted seven shots with four shots on goal. Liz Wolf followed with four shots, while Lauren Brooks, Madelyn Krause, and Rachel Morgan all had multiple chances at the net. On the other end of the field, Samuelson recorded her second shutout of the season, giving the senior eight shutouts in her Ave Maria career and setting a new program record in the process.
AMU remains for Michigan for the first part of this week, and will return to the field Wednesday morning against their best opponent to date. The Gyrenes will challege the Saints of Aquinas College, who are ranked ninth in the first edition of the NAIA Coaches' Poll. Kickoff from Grand Rapids in Ave Maria's final game in Michigan is scheduled for 11 a.m.
