WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's soccer team saw a successful 2023 season come to an end in The Sun Conference Tournament on Saturday, as the Gyrenes fell 2-0 to the Keiser University Seahawks in West Palm Beach. Two first half goals from the Seahawks proved to be the difference in the quarterfinal matchup, which marked Ave Maria's first trip to the postseason since the 2020 campaign.

Keiser jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute of the match, taking a lead they would not relinquish on a Ramona Kannady, who chipped her shot past the AMU goalkeeper. The Seahawks added an insurance goal in the 42nd minute, provided by Oline Sundgot. On assists from Angelina Coelho and Marthe Taugbol, Sundgot fired a low shot that beat the goalkeeper to the left side, extending the Keiser lead to 2-0.

Ave Maria kept the Seahawks off the board for the remainder of the match, but couldn't find the back of the net to claw their way back into the contest. The Gyrenes outshot the Seahawks 6-3 in the second half, and were responsible for the only three shots on goal in the final 45 minutes. Rachel Dalton (twice) and Lauren Brooks put shots on the Keiser keeper, but all were turned away to ensure Keiser would meet top-seeded SCAD on Tuesday in the Sun Conference semifinals.

The Seahawks ended the match with the advantage in overall shots, but it was the Gyrenes that actually put more shots on target. Keiser took 13 shots to Ave Maria's eight, but five of AMU's eight shots were on goal, compared to four of 13 for the Seahawks.

Second Team All-Sun Conference selection Rachel Dalton was the lone Gyrene with two shots on goal, while both Lauren Brooks and Nina Laville attempted two shots with one shot on goal in the final game of their senior season. Fellow Second Team All-SUN selection Emma Schweitzer finished her freshman season with two saves, keeping the Seahawks from widening their lead any further.

The Gyrenes finish the 2023 season with a 6-8-4 record, earning a point in 10 of their 18 matches this season. The women's soccer program seems to have a promising future, with ten of the 12 players that played more than 800 minutes this season slated to return in 2024. Of those ten, five were freshmen, giving the program a solid foundation for the coming years.