SARASOTA, Fla. — The Ave Maria University Men's Soccer team closed out their season on Wednesday against the New College of Florida Mighty Banyans. The Gyrenes got the benefit of a New College miscue to end the season on a somewhat positive note of a 1-1 draw.
Both teams were at a stalemate in the first half as neither team could find a groove offensively. The Gyrenes defense was tested early but was there to answer the call. New College logged shots in the second, fifth and eighth minutes, but all missed the net. The first two went high while keeper Noah Balyeat stopped the third.
Ave Maria responded with a quick shot on goal from Brandom Gomez in the ninth minute, but the Mighty Banyans goalkeeper was there to make the save.
The Gyrene defense was tested again, with several more shots on goal. The Mighty Banyans log attempts in the 13
th, 15
th and 16
th minutes. However, Balyeat was a wall, saving all the attempts from the Banyans.
The Gyrene offense picked up later in the first half, as Mateo Rolon had shot attempts in the 24
th minute and the 33
rd minute. Karl Sri got involved in the 31
st minute but could not find the back of the net. As the first half expired, both teams took a 0-0 tie into the break.
The opening minutes of the second half were a defensive stand from the Gyrenes. The Mighty Banyans had three shots within the span of a minute, but all three shots were stopped by the Gyrenes.
Jose Jacquet had a shot in the 54
th minute, but the shot went wide and the game remained tied.
Balyeat recorded two more saves, one in the 59
th minute and another in the 61
st. Unfortunately, New College of Florida did slip one by in the 62
nd minute and took a 1-0 lead.
New College's lead lasted for 18 minutes before a critical error tied the game. Midfielder Angelo Fernando sent a ball in deep to the box, looking to make a leading pass for one of his teammates.
NCF's Theo Weber got there instead and tried to play the ball back to the keeper. However, the ball took an awkward bounce off Weber's boot, catching the Mighty Banyans' keeper by surprise, the ball flew into the back of the net to tie the match at one.
It is the first own goal of the season to go in favor of the Gyrenes.
Mateo Rolon had a chance to win it for the Gyrenes in the 90
th minute, but the shot went wide. When the final whistle blew, Ave Maria walked off the pitch with a 1-1 draw.
With the tie on Wednesday, Ave Maria finishes the season with a 7-9-2 record overall and a 1-5-2 record in conference play for five total points in the Sun Conference Standings.
The 7 wins on the season matched their program record and they also recorded two more points in the SUN Conference than last year. While the fans of Ave Maria soccer will have to wait until 2027 to see their squad back on the pitch, they can be certain that Ave Maria University Men's soccer is heading in the right direction.
