AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria Men's Soccer team lost a tough one in their home opener, falling to the Life Running Eagles 3-0. It was a tight contest for most of the match, but the Gyrenes could not translate their pressure into shots on goal.
Life outshot Ave Maria 9-4 in the first half, but neither team found the back of the net in the opening 45. The Running Eagles put five shots on goal, but they were all turned away by the Gyrenes. Keeper Andrija Vujakovic made four saves in the first half, while the Gyrene defense got the other save. Off a corner from the Running Eagles, a couple Gyrene defenders turned aside a header to keep the game tied at zero.
On the opposite end, the Gyrenes took one shot on goal also off a header. Padraic Pierson was looking for his third goal on the season, but it was turned aside the Life keeper.
In the second half, Life finally broke the scoreless tie in the 52
nd minute. The Running Eagles got back-to-back corner kicks on the Gyrenes and found nylon on the second attempt.
Ave Maria threatened to tie the game but couldn't turn their opportunities into shots on goal. Just like the first half, Ave Maria only had one shot on goal, this time from Mateo Rolon.
Life scored their second and third goals in the final ten minutes of the game. The second goal added insurance in the 84
th minute while the third goal was wild shot from the top of the penalty arc that hit the top corner of the goal.
Despite the three goals allowed, Vujakovic finished the game with six saves.
With the loss, Ave Maria falls to 1-2-1.
The Gyrenes begin conference play their next time on the pitch. The Gyrenes travel north to Lakeland to take on the Southeastern Fire. The match is the start of four straight conference games for Ave Maria.
