AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria dropped their second straight non-conference game to an NCAA opponent Tuesday night. It was another low-scoring affair as the Gyrenes fell to the New England Nor'Easters 9-7.
Ave Maria scored the first goal and remained either in front or tied for most the game. Anna Bocchino netted the opening goal, scooping up a ground ball and crashing the net to beat the keeper on the left side.
Angelina Diesslin found the back of the net four minutes later. The freshman looked like she was wanting to pass the ball in front of the crease, but then whipped around, catching the UNE keeper by surprise, and slipping the ball in the top shelf.
New England scored a short-handed goal in the final two minutes of the first quarter to cut the lead in half.
In the second quarter, the Nor'Easters scored with in the first 90 seconds of the frame to tie the game at two.
The Gyrenes then scored back-to-back goals to retake a two-goal lead. Sophie Paige netted the first one while Bocchino got her second goal of the night.
The lead did not last long as New England found the back of the net two more times before the end of the frame, making the game tied at four heading into halftime. All eight goals of the opening 30 minutes were scored two goals at a time from each teams.
In the third quarter, Ave Maria outscored New England 3-1 to retake the two-goal lead. Paige opened the scoring in the second half with her second goal of the game. New England responded two minutes later, tying the game at five and breaking the two goals at a time pattern.
The Gyrenes then found the back of the net two more times off the sticks of Bocchino and Annie Dhabliwala. Both goals were off free position shots, the only two AMU made in the game.
Ave Maria went into the final 15 minutes of the game leading 7-5, but they could not hold onto the lead New England scored four straight goals while keeping the Gyrenes off the board. The first two goals that tied the game were scored in the opening six minutes of the frame. New England then took their first lead of the game with 7:50 left to play. Ave Maria had one chance to tie the game on a free position shot, but the attempt was saved. New England added an insurance goal in the final three minutes and ran out the clock to ice the game.
Paige and Bocchino tied for the most points on the team with three. Diesslin was the only other Gyrene to record a multi-point game.
In the midfield, Ave Maria out drew New England 11-7. Dhabliwala and Alex Mazurczak led the team in draw controls, each with four.
Defensively, Alli Fifield led the team with three caused turnovers and four ground balls.
In goal, Francesca Pieniadz stopped seven of 16 shots.
With the loss, Ave Maria falls to 5-3 overall. They finish 1-2 against NCAA opponents this season.
The Gyrenes have one more non-conference game before league play gets underway. Ave Maria will take on the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers Thursday, March 26. It will be the first ever meeting between the two programs. Opening draw is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on the Urban Edge Network.
