AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University rugby team opened divisional play on Saturday at home, taking on the club team from the University of Miami. The Gyrenes held a halftime lead against Miami, but came up just short, falling 21-19.

Ave Maria led 12-7 at the end of the first half, thanks to tries from Danny Harrington and Gabe Carter, as well as a conversion from Greg Higgins. However, the Hurricanes outscored the Gyrenes 14-7 in the second half to earn the victory. Greg Higgins was responsible for all seven AMU points in the second half, recording a try - worth five points - and a conversion, worth two.

Both teams recorded three tries in the contest, with the difference in the contest being a missed conversion from Ave Maria in the first half. Harrington, Carter, and Higgins accounted for AMU's three tries, with Higgins connecting on two of three conversions.

Ave Maria's next match will be this coming Saturday, as the Gyrenes take on the Macaws of Millenia Atlantic University. It will be AMU's second divisional match in Division II in the Florida Collegiate Conference. Ave Maria will play both Miami and MAU again in March and April to conclude divisional play.

Ave Maria's next home match will be a non-divisional match, as the Gyrenes play host to the club team from Eckerd College. That match, scheduled for February 24, will begin at 1:00 p.m. on the AMU campus.