Ave Maria: Gyrenes and Georgetown Play Another Nailbiter
AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University lacrosse team came all the way back from a six-goal deficit to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but could not hold on in an 12-11 defeat at the hands of No. 9 Georgetown College Monday evening at Gyrene Field. Monday’s matchup marked the fourth time in the last six seasons where the Gyrenes and Tigers have been seperated by just one goal, although Georgetown has emerged victorious on each occasion.
The first quarter was the quietest frame of the night, with just three goals in the first 15 minutes. All three goals were scored by Georgetown, who got on the board less than three minutes in on a goal from Brenn Taylor. The game would remain 1-0 for almost ten minutes before Faith Boa scored at the 2:24 mark to make it 2-0. Maddie Brock added a goal in the final minute of the quarter to extend Georgetown’s lead to three goals.
Georgetown outscored the Gyrenes in the second quarter as well, opening up an 8-3 halftime lead. The Tigers led 4-0 before Orianna Eldridge put AMU on the board. Eldridge and Davis scored consecutive goals to cut the Georgetown lead to 5-3, but the Tigers would score the final three goals of the half, powered by two scores from Mac Miller and one from Melanie Wieland.
Ave Maria turned the tide in the third quarter, scoring five unanswered goals to cut the Georgetown lead to 9-8. Emma Davis was the standout in the third, scoring three of AMU’s five goals. Abigail Seiler and Emma Baughman added the other two, and Hannah Shaffrey assisted on the second of Davis’ single-quarter hat trick. The last of Davis’ goals came with 1:45 remaining in the quarter, and got the Gyrenes within one for the first time since it was 1-0.
In the fourth quarter, Ave Maria tied the game with 12:06 left on a goal from Seiler, then took a 10-9 lead with 11:02 to play on a goal from Davis. Georgetown scored on the ensuing possesion, and the game would remain tied for nearly seven minutes before the go-ahead goal from GC’s Ashleigh Lucas with 3:52 left. Mac Miller put the Tigers up 12-10 with 1:46 left, but Davis cut it back to one at 12-11. AMU did have a chance to tie the game in the final minute, but turned the ball over to let the Tigers run out the clock.
Davis had her best game of the season, scoring six goals, while Eldridge and Seiler both added two goals. Eldridge also had a stellar game on the draw, becoming just the third player in school history to grab ten draw controls in a single game. Peyton Williams also had an excellent game defensively, scooping up two ground balls and causing six turnovers. In goal, Kaylee Wesolowski made eleven saves to keep the Gyrenes in striking distance throughout.
Monday’s game marked the first matchup of a stretch where the Gyrenes face five nationally ranked teams over the next month. The next of those nationally recognized foes comes on Thursday, when AMU welcomes No. 3 Lawrence Tech to Gyrene Field. Opening draw from Ave Maria is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
