HIALEAH, Fla. — The Ave Maria Men's Soccer team dropped their first match in 22 days to the same Florida National team that beat them September 1. The Gyrenes got better throughout the match but fell to the Conquistadors 2-0.
The first half was all Florida National as the Gyrenes were outshot 19-1. Mateo Rolon took the lone shot of the first 45 minutes for Ave Maria and directed it on goal, but it was saved by the FNU goalie.
On the other side of the pitch, Florida National took 19 shots, seven of which were directed on goal. Reigning Defensive Player of the Week Andrija Vujakovic made six saves in the first half, keeping the Gyrenes in the game. However, one did get past him with FNU opening the scoring in the 24
th minute.
The second half was a lot more even between the two teams. Ave Maria was still outshot, but by a much less margin of 8-5. Two of the Gyrenes' shots were blocked by Conquistador defenders as they looked to even the match. Ave Maria's best chance in the 67
th minute. A ball forced out of bounds by the Conquistadors led to a Gyrene corner kick. Rolon set up Riley Green with a shot off the corner, but it was saved by the FNU keeper.
Ave Maria's defense kept the Conquistadors at bay, forcing their first seven shots of the half to be either wide, high or blocked. However, Florida National extended their lead to 2-0 in the second-to-last minute of the match, effectively icing the game.
With the loss, Ave Maria's five unbeaten match streak comes to an end. The Gyrenes' record falls to 4-3-2 and 4-2-1 in the month of September.
Jael Paraga led the team with two of the six shots. Rolon and Green had the two shots on goal. Vujakovic finished the match with six saves.
The Gyrenes are on the road one more time to close out September, heading east to Doral, Florida, to take on the Albizu Pumas. Albizu is in its inaugural season of college soccer and took on the Ave Maria Reserves squad September 5 in a match that ended in a 1-1 draw. The game is set for Sunday, September 28, with kickoff slated for 12:30 p.m.
