The Ave Maria University women's soccer team dropped their Sun Conference opener on Thursday, falling 2-1 to the Webber International University Warriors at Gyrene Field. The Sun Conference opener was the Gyrenes' first game in more than two and a half weeks following a cancelation last Saturday due to Hurricane Ian, and saw AMU's five-game unbeaten and five-game shutout streaks come to an end.
Thursday night's contest was uneventful for much of the first half, with the game remaining scoreless for more than 35 minutes. Webber finally broke through in the 37th minute, when Deborah Guillen lofted a shot just over the hands of AMU goalkeeper Maddie Samuelson for the opening goal of the night. Guillen's strike would be the lone goal in the opening 45 minutes, as the Warriors took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
Ave Maria struck back in the 50th minute, evening the score. Rachel Dalton played a perfect through ball to Madelyn Krause, who eluded the goalkeeper and buried her shot for her third goal of the season. Unfortunately for the Gyrenes, Webber would answer just 71 seconds later for what would prove to be the game-winner. Brazil Clark finished from short range in the 51st minute, providing the final score of 2-1.
The game was one of the most physical games of the season for the Gyrenes, as the two teams were whistled for a combined 32 fouls and accumulated three yellow cards. Both teams were active offensively, as well, with Ave Maria taking 14 shots and Webber attempting 13. Webber was more active in the first half, holding an 8-6 lead in shots, while AMU outshot the Warriors in the final 45 minutes by an 8-5 margin.
Krause, who pulled even with Liz Wolf for the team lead with her third goal, was Ave Maria's most notable attacker in the match, attempting five shots with two shots on goal. Dalton and Wolf also attempted two shots, as did Rachel Morgan off the bench. In goal, Samuelson made three saves to keep the Gyrenes in the game, and the senior kept her save percentage above 90 percent for the season despite the defeat.
AMU's gauntlet of a Sun Conference schedule continues next Thursday, when the Bobcats of St. Thomas University come to town. The Bobcats, who were receiving votes in the most recent NAIA Coaches' Poll, are currently 1-0 in Sun Conference play after a blowout win over Florida Memorial last Saturday. Kickoff at Gyrene Field for the first of a four-match stretch in an eight-day span is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
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