MONTGOMERY, Ala.- The Ave Maria University women's soccer team stole a stunning victory from the jaws of defeat Saturday evening in Alabama, scoring two goals in 25 seconds, then finding the winner, to earn a road win, 3-2, against the Eagles of Faulkner University. The Gyrenes, in the program's first of two games in Alabama, trailed 2-0 with 14 minutes to play before a wild 30 seconds turned the match on its head and a dramatic winner came in the final five minutes. Through three matches, the Gyrenes hold a 2-1 record.
Ave Maria was the more active attacking team in the first 45 minutes, but neither team was able to find the back of the net. While both teams attempted four shots, three of AMU's four attempts challenged the goalkeeper, while none of Faulkner's did. The Gyrenes also had five corner kick opportunities, but still headed back into the dressing room in a scoreless draw.
The match seemed to slip away in the first 20 minutes of the second half. Faulkner took the lead in the 50th minute on a goal from Mekenzie Bettis, and added a second goal in the 54th minute on a penalty kick from Gabriela Garzon Valero. AMU had a chance to pull within one in the 65th minute, but saw a penalty kick of their own go wide.
But in the 77th minute, the match flipped upside down. In the 77th minute, the Gyrenes earned a corner kick. Julia Hyland looped the kick into the box, and a bouncing back found the back heel of Arianna Sebion Calvesio, who finished for the senior's first career goal and cut the AMU deficit to 2-1.
And the Gyrenes weren't done.
Just seconds after the kickoff, Ave Maria goalkeeper Emma Schweitzer punted a loose ball away. The punt deflected off the head of a Faulkner midfielder, and rolled to the foot of Cydnee Butler. Butler outran her defender, then finished to the far post to even the match at 2 in the span of 25 seconds.
And the Gyrenes weren't done.
With less than five minutes to play, Ave Maria capitalized on a Faulkner mistake for a dramatic winner. Aviana Ferraez forced a turnover in the attacking third, and placed a perfect low cross across the box. The cross found the foot of Claire Wrobleski, who slotted it home for the improbable winner.
Faulkner outshot the Gyrenes 13-12 on Saturday evening, although Ave Maria had a 7-5 edge in shots on goal. In goal, Schweitzer earned her second win of the season for AMU, making three saves to keep the Gyrenes within striking distance.
Ave Maria's Alabama trip continues on Monday, when the Gyrenes battle the Tornadoes of Talladega College. It is the second all-time meeting between Ave Maria and Talladega, with the Gyrenes earning a 10-0 victory on August 24, 2019. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. local time (11:00 a.m. eastern) in Talladega.
