MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Ave Maria Men's Soccer team concluded their 2024 season Saturday evening, falling to the St. Thomas Bobcats 3-2. The Gyrenes scored first, but three straight goals from St. Thomas put the game out of reach for Ave Maria.

Sava Cadjenovic opened the scoring with a strike in the 21^st minute. St. Thomas had outshot Ave Maria 6-2 in the first twenty minutes, but it was Cadjenovic who was able to find the back of the net. It is his third goal this season and first since October 19 against Keiser.

Unfortunately, the lead did not last for long as St. Thomas evened up the scoring four minutes later.

St. Thomas continued to take shots in the first half, but most went wide of the net. The two teams went into the break tied at 1, but St. Thomas was leading 15-2 in shots.

In the second half, the Bobcats got two goals within six minutes of each other in the 60^th and 66^th minute to go up 3-1.

In the 74^th minute, Ave responded and got back within one of the Bobcats. Mateo Rolon scored the second goal for the Gyrenes off an assist from Cadjenovic. For Rolon, it is his fifth goal of the season. It was also the first assist of the season for Cadjenovic, giving him a season-high three points on the game.

Down one with 15 minutes left to play, Ave Maria tried to press and tie the game, but only managed one more shot on goal from Cadjenovic, which was saved by the St. Thomas keeper.
The Bobcats dribbled out the clock to secure the win.

With the loss, Ave Maria finishes the season 2-11-3. The Gyrenes matched their win total from 2023 and added two more ties.

With his fifth goal on Saturday, freshman Rolon ends the season as the top scorer for the Gyrenes. Cadjenovic is right behind him with three goals. Jael Parraga, Andre Betioli, and Padriac Pierson all tied for third with two goals.

Freshman goalkeeper Andrija Vujakovic add four more saves to his total in the season finale, finishing the year off with 86 saves, the fifth most in a single season in Ave Maria history. More impressively, Vujakovic finished the year with four shutouts, which is not only a single season record, but tied for the most in a career in just one year.

With the young core, Ave Maria is excited and hopeful for 2025.