TALLADEGA, Ala. — Coming off a dramatic comeback win Saturday evening, emotions were high for the Ave Maria Women's Soccer team heading into Monday's matchup with the Talladega Tornadoes. Luckily for the hearts of Gyrene Nation, the Women's Soccer team didn't wait until the final 10 minutes to score the game-winning goal this time as they notched a comfortable 3-1 win.
High off her game-winning goal Saturday, Claire Wrobleski got the scoring started almost immediately with a strike in the sixth minute. The junior received a feed from Ariana Sebion Calvesio and hit the back of the net to log her fourth goal of the year.
The Tornadoes responded 15 minutes later with a goal in the 21
st minute. It was the first shot on goal for Talladega and just snuck by to even up the score at one apiece.
The tie lasted through the rest of the opening half. Talladega registered two more shots on goal, but both were saved by keeper Emma Schweitzer. The Gyrenes also took two shots on goal in the final 25 minutes of the half, and both were stopped as well.
The second half began with a bang similarly to the first. Just six minutes into the half again, Julia Hyland put the Gyrenes back on top with an unassisted goal. The Tornadoes did not have a response for Hyland's goal, making it the game-winner. It is the first game-winning goal of Hyland's career.
Ave Maria was not done scoring in the second half adding one more goal to their total in the 87
th minute. The insurance goal was off the boot of Cydnee Butler, who buried a pass from Marissa Weber into the back of the net. Butler, a senior from Naples, now has three goals on the year, bringing her career total up to four. For Webber, it was the first assist and point of her Ave Maria career.
Defensively, Schweitzer made two more saves in the second half to hold the Tornadoes to just the one goal.
With the win, Ave Maria improves to 3-1 on the year and sweeps their two-game tour of the Yellowhammer State. The win also wraps up four straight home games to begin the year due to the cancelation of the original season opener against Florida Poly on August 22.
The Gyrenes are finally back home for their next match, however it will not count towards the record. Ave Maria has an exhibition scheduled with NCAA Division II Barry Friday, September 11. The Gyrenes are home after that as they host the Florida National Conquistadors September 19 for their first official home match of the season. Both games will be streamed live on the Sun Digital Network.
