WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — It was very even in the first 30 minutes between the Ave Maria Lacrosse team and the Keiser Seahawks, but a rough third quarter led to the Gyrenes falling 15-11.
The two teams were almost identical in the first two quarters with each squad scoring four goals in the first quarter and two goals in the second. Lily Hynds opened the scoring in the sixth minutes, burying a feed from Angelina Diesslin.
Keiser tied it up just 12 seconds later, but the Gyrenes stormed back in front with three straight goals. Alexandra Mazurczak put Ave Maria back in front, whipping around right in front of the goalie and slamming home a pass from Anna Bocchino.
Bocchino scored the next goal unassisted followed by a second goal form Mazurczak on an assist from Sophie Paige.
The lead did not last long, unfortunately, as Keiser scored three straight goals in the final three and a half minutes to tie the game at four after the first frame.
In the second, Bocchino opened the scoring with her second goal of the game.
Keiser then scored the next two to take their first lead of the match.
The Seahawks held the lead for five minutes before Mazurczak netted her third goal of the game with a nine seconds remaining in the half. The Gyrenes cleared the ball with 17 second left and the junior had just enough time to shoot to send the game knotted up at six into halftime.
Things took a turn for the worse in the third quarter as Keiser scored six straight goals in 12 and a half minutes. Ave Maria took two just two shots during the stretch and both were saved by the Keiser keeper.
The Gyrenes got two goals in the final two and half minutes of the frame, both off the stick of Annie Dhabliwala as she got on the scoresheet for the first time in the match. Both of her strikes sandwiched another Keiser goal, and the Seahawks took a 13-8 lead into the final frame.
Ave Maria made it interesting in the fourth quarter by scoring three straight goals in the opening five minutes to get back within two of the Seahawks. Dhabliwala got her third of the game off an assist from Paige. Just 15 seconds later, Mazurczak got her fourth of the game off a pass from Dhabliwala. Hynds scored the final goal of the stretch from the Gyrenes unassisted.
With 10 minutes remaining, Keiser played lock down defense and only allowed two more shots from the Gyrenes, both of which were saved. The Seahawks netted two more goals to end the match and win 15-11.
Dhabliwala and Mazurczak tied for the team lead with four points. Bocchino, Hynds and Paige all recorded multi-point games as well.
In the midfield, Dhabliwala led the team with eight draw controls. For just the second time this season, the Gyrenes were outdrawn by their opponent as Keiser won 15 to AMU's 12.
Defensively, Hynds led the team with two caused turnovers. Four different Gyrenes each tied for the team lead with two ground balls.
In goal, Francesca Pieniadz stopped eight shots.
With the loss, Ave Maria falls to 7-5 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
The Gyrenes are back home for their next match as they play host to the Life Running Eagles Thursday, April 16. Life was ranked seventh in the most recent NAIA poll, one spot ahead of the Gyrenes. Opening draw is set for 7 p.m. and the match will be streamed live on the Urban Edge Network.
