via Ave Maria press release

BOX SCORE

WEST POINT, Ga.- The Ave Maria University lacrosse team posted one of the most lopsided victories in school history on Monday afternoon, a 19-2 demolition of the Skyhawks of Point University on the road. The Gyrenes’ 17 goal win was tied for the second highest margin of victory in school history, behind only a 20-1 win over Truett McConnell back in 2015. 

The victory came against the former school of head coach Shelby Sanderson, who coached the Skyhawks in 2018 and 2019. The win for Sanderson’s Gyrenes also came against a former college teammate, as Point coach Bianca Rojas and Sanderson played together at Shorter University for two seasons. 

In less than nine minutes, the Gyrenes built a 6-0 lead on the host Skyhawks. The first two of these goals came in less than a minute, coming from freshmen Abigail Seiler and Claire Ichniowski. Two goals from Davis followed, and tallies from Seiler and Hannah Shaffrey accounted for the six goal lead just 8:48 into the contest. 

After surrendering their first goal to the Skyhawks with 2:03 to play in the first quarter, Ave Maria kept the hosts off the board for more than 34 minutes, scoring each of the next ten goals to break the game wide open. Seiler was the leader of the AMU attack during this time, scoring three times and assisting on an Anna Lapkowicz goal. 

Hannah Shaffrey completed her hat trick with goals in the second and third quarters, while Elizabeth Nowak also scored twice in this stretch. After Point’s second goal, Seiler added her sixth goal of the afternoon, while Davis scored twice in the final ten minutes for her third and fourth tallies of the game.

Seiler’s six goals and two assists gave her a game-high eight points in the victory, while Davis and Shaffrey also added hat tricks. Orianna Eldridge led Ave Maria’s efforts to control the ball, scooping seven ground balls and six draw controls. Nowak and Monrae Prentice both caused two turnovers on the defensive end of the field.

Three notable records and milestones were hit in the win over Point. With three assists, freshman Hannah Shaffrey posted her 17th assist of the season, breaking the single-season school record set by Mackenzie Tourville in 2017. 

Also, Orianna Eldridge became the school’s single-season leader in draw controls, snagging her 60th of the season to overtake another 2017 record held by Tourville. Additionally, Davis’ four goals gave her 102 goals in her AMU career, making her just the second player, joining Katelyn Sherman, in school history to record 100 goals.

Ave Maria’s final four opponents of the 2022 season are all currently listed among the top 15 teams in the nation. The first of these foes comes on Friday, when the Gyrenes head across the state for a meeting with the defending national champions from Keiser University, who are currently ranked third in the nation. Opening draw between the Gyrenes and the Seahawks in West Palm Beach is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.