AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria Men's Soccer team lost their penultimate conference and home game Thursday to the SCAD Bees 3-1. Ave Maria got a late goal to make it a one-goal game, but the Bees struck even later to ice the match.

SCAD outshot the Gyrenes 6-4 in the first half, but the shots on goal were even between the two teams at two apiece. Andrija Vujakovic stopped the first shot on goal, but the second was put into the back of the net with a header off a corner kick.

In the final ten minutes of the frame, Ave Maria got their two shots on goal from Luca Viana and Levi Orlando, but both were saved by the SCAD keeper.

The Gyrenes took control of the game in the second half. Ave Maria came out of the break with a frenzy and took 15 shots, six of which were on goal, in the final frame. Fifteen shots in one half is tied for the most this season and under head coach Markovic. Six shots on goal in one frame is also more than Ave Maria has had total in eight games this season.

In comparison, SCAD only took five shots, four of which were on goal. However, that advantage did not show on the scoreboard as the Bees outscored the Gyrenes 2-1 in the second half.

SCAD scored their second goal in the 55^th minute off another set piece. This time, the goal was scored off a free kick that Vujakovic got a piece of but tipped off the bottom of his hand and bounced into the goal.

The Gyrenes finally connected on goal in the 85^th minute. Vianna stole the ball away at midfield and played a great through ball for Orlando, allowing him to get behind the defense. One-on-one with the keeper, Orlando chipped the ball just over the glove of the goalie and into the back of the net for his first goal of the season. It is also his first goal since September 23, 2023, when he scored against the same Bees.

Vianna got the assist, which was the first of his Ave Maria career.

Down 2-1, the Gyrenes pushed hard for one more score to try for a tie, but it was SCAD who scored the final goal to ice the game. Mario Goic, the leading Sun Conference scorer, bolted towards the net on a 4-1 rush for the Bees in the final minute of the match found the back of the net for the game's final goal.

In total, Ave Maria outshot the Bees 19-11 overall and 8-6 on net. It is the fourth time they have led in shots and the third time they have led in both.

With the loss, the Gyrenes fall to 2-10-2 overall and 1-6-1 in conference play.

Ave Maria's next game is the home finale and also their final conference game of the regular season. The Gyrenes host the Webber Warriors Wednesday, October 30, with kickoff set for 4 p.m. It is also senior day as the Gyrenes will honor their upperclassmen before the game. The game is part of a tripleheader on campus, with Women's Soccer and Volleyball also in action the day before Halloween. The match will be streamed live on the Sun Digital Network.