AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University lacrosse team finished the regular season with a resounding win on Saturday, rolling past the New College of Florida by a 22-1 score. The effort tied the best defensive performance in school history, as the Gyrenes have allowed just one goal in a match twice before in school history - in 2015 against Truett McConnell and in 2021 against Webber International. With the win over the Mighty Banyans in the first ever meeting between the schools, AMU secured the three-seed in next week's Sun Conference Tournament.

The scoring came quickly for the Gyrenes on Saturday, as Ave Maria jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter, and enacted the running clock with 9:28 to go in the second quarter. The Gyrenes scored the game's first nine goals, then ended the game with 13 consecutive goals after the Mighty Banyans' lone tally early in the second frame. Eleven Gyrenes found the back of the net, with eight scoring more than once.

As a team, the Gyrenes peppered the New College net with 44 total shots, with 28 of those shots challenging the Mighty Banyan goalkeeper. AMU was equally as dominant when the ball was in the sticks of New College, forcing 30 turnovers and only allowing the visitors, in their final game of the season, to attempt two shots.

Annie Dhabliwala led the Gyrenes' attack, scoring four goals. Claire Ichniowski also added a hat trick with three goals, while Francesca Pieniadz, Lily Hynds, Allison Fifield, Alexandra Mazurczak, Anna Bocchino, and Abbey Seiler all scored twice. Seiler was the team leader in points with five, adding three assists to her two goals. Defensively, Elie Coyle and Dhabliwala led the way with four caused turnovers, while Hynds picked up six ground balls. Seiler and Haley Chapman were the leader on the draw, with both players picking up five draw controls.

With the win, the Gyrenes finish 5-2 in Sun Conference play, good for third place behind regular season champion Keiser and second-seeded SCAD Savannah. The Gyrenes will open up the conference tournament Tuesday night at home, as the Warner University Royals come to town. The Gyrenes dominated Warner in the first meeting, winning 24-2 in Lake Wales on March 22. Should AMU be victorious on Tuesday, the Gyrenes would head to Savannah on Friday for a meeting with SCAD, who knocked off the Gyrenes 17-10 on March 20.