MOUNT VERNON, Ga. — The Ave Maria Men's Soccer team got their first win of the season Saturday evening, beating the Brewton-Parker Barons 4-0. It was an explosion of offense in the second half for the Gyrenes, with all four goals coming in the final frame.

The game stayed scoreless for the first 45 minutes of the game. The shots were mostly even, with the Gyrenes getting a slight 6-5 edge. Both teams only managed one shot on goal though. Mateo Rolon got the shot on goal for the Gyrenes in the opening ten minutes of the match.

Ave Maria also had a shot hit the post in the opening ten minutes from Sava Cadjenovic.

In the second half, the Gyrene offense really found their footing. Despite Brewton-Parker outshooting Ave Maria 9-7, the Gyrenes directed five of their shots on goal, with four of them finding the back of the net.

Padriac Pierson got the first goal of the season for the Gyrenes in the 56^th minute. The senior from Fort Wayne, Indiana, buried a nice feed from Andre Betioli and put it passed the Barons' goalie to put AMU up 1-0.

Just seven minutes later, Betioli doubled the Gyrenes lead with a goal of his own.

Ave Maria tacked on two more goals in the 74^th and 80^th minutes. Pierson got his second goal of the game, this time unassisted, to put the Gyrenes up 3-0. The fourth and final tally came from Grant Goduti off a feed from Jerron Dopwell.

For Pierson, Saturday was the first multi-goal game of his collegiate career. It also doubled his career scoring totals, with two goals last season.

Betioli also had a career game, recording a goal and an assist. It was the second time in his collegiate career he found the scoring sheet twice, with the first being a two-assist game against Warner last year.

Defensively, goalkeeper Andrija Vujakovic pitched his second shutout of the season. Vujakovic stopped seven shots in the game, including six saves in the second half.

Through the first 180 minutes of the season, Vujakovic has made 10 saves and has not allowed a goal passed him. With two shutouts to start the season, he becomes just the third Gyrene to record multiple shutouts in a season.

With the win, Ave Maria improves to 1-0-1. Ave Maria returns to Florida after a successful road trip to the Peach State having won their first non-conference match since 2022.

The Gyrenes return to the pitch Saturday, August 31, up in Temple Terrace to take on the Florida College Falcons. The two teams didn't play last season, but Ave Maria has won the last two matches, having swept Florida College in 2022. Kickoff is set for 7:30.