March 9th 2023 was the Benedictine Upset

via Ave Maria press release/website

BOX SCORE

Lacrosse Nearly Stuns No. 1 Lawrence Tech

AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Gyrenes led the reigning national championship Lawrence Tech Blue Devils for more than 20 minutes Friday morning, but couldn’t close it out, losing 9-8. It was the best performance of the young season for the Gyrenes who outshot the Blue Devils, caused more turnovers and won more draws.

Orianna Eldridge got the scoring started, putting Ave Maria up 1-0 about six minutes into the first quarter. Eldridge was assisted by Alexandra Mazurczak, the freshman’s second assist of the season.

Lawrence Tech responded with two quick goals to go up 2-1. LTU hung onto that lead up until the very final second of the opening frame but did not carry it into the second quarter. Abbey Seiler made sure the game was tied at two with a last second goal, spinning around a defender and slinging it into the net.

In the opening minutes of the second quarter, Alexandra Mazurczak gave the Gyrenes their second lead of the game with an unassisted goal.

Like the first quarter, the Blue Devils quickly tied the game up following an Ave Maria lead but couldn’t extend the tie into a lead.

Hannah Shaffrey and Mazurczak found the back of the net two more times before the halftime horn sounded and the Gyrenes took a 5-3 lead over the number one team in the country into the break.

Coming out of the break, the Blue Devils seized all of the momentum of the game. The third quarter was all Lawrence Tech as they outscored the Gyrenes 5-1 in that time. Lily Hynds got the lone goal for Ave Maria in the quarter, which at the time put the Gyrenes ahead 6-5. However, LTU got three more goals before the end of the quarter to take an 8-6 lead.

The Blue Devils score the first goal of the fourth quarter as well, with Alaina Smythe cashing in on the man-advantage.

Down three with a little over ten minutes left, the Gyrenes knew what they had to do, and came very close to tying the game.

Eldridge got her second goal of the game to start the rally for the Gyrenes five minutes into the frame. After some defensive back-and-forth between the two teams, Claire Ichniowski scored her first goal of the season with under two minutes left to play, bringing the Gyrenes within one.

Following the goal, the Gyrenes won the draw and had a chance to tie it up in the final minute.

With under 30 seconds left to play, Eldridge got free of her defender and took a shot, but the LTU goalie was there to make the save. The Blue Devils ran out the clock and escaped with 9-8 win.

Mazurczak led the team in points with two goals and two assists for a total of four points. Eldridge was the other Gyrene with multiple points, scoring two goals.

In net, Emily Durr made her second start of the season and made six saves on 15 shots.

With the loss, the Gyrenes fall to 0-3, but can hold their head up high on taking the reigning champs to the wire.

The Gyrenes next home game is Monday, March 11, against the Franciscan Barons. The Gyrenes are 2-0 all time against the Barons and are looking to extend that streak for their first win of the season. Game time is set for 6 p.m. and can be streamed on the Sun Digital Network.