Score: Life U 6, Ave Maria 8
Records: Life U, 6-7 (2-2 SUN); Ave Maria, 8-5 (2-2 SUN)

AVE MARIA, Fla. – The Life University women's lacrosse team fell to the Gyrenes of Ave Maria on the road Thursday night. In a defensive battle that was close all the way to the end, the home offense held on just long enough.

It was a tough start to the contest in the Sunshine State as the Gyrenes jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period. Tori Wolf responded for the Running Eagles late in the frame but the junior's score marked the only Life U goal of the first.

The Running Eagles got back on track in the second period. The defense held Ave Maria scoreless in the frame while Roxie Beasley and Hannah Leon added goals for Life U. The pair tied the contest at 3-3 heading into half time.

Ave Maria retook control of the contest in the third period. Flipping the script, the Gyrenes defense held the Running Eagles to zero goals in the frame while the offense added two on the other end.

In the fourth, the home offense opened the scoring, pushing the lead to three. Reese Phipps and Sainabou Foon cut the deficit back down to one on a pair of unassisted goals with just over six minutes left to play. Ave Maria found the back of the net at the four minute mark but Beasley answered exactly a minute later to once again cut the deficit to just one. However, the Gyrenes added one last goal in the final minute, taking an 8-6 win.

TURNING POINT:
--The Gyrenes retook the lead out of the half time break and never trailed again.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--Roxie Beasley: 2 goals
--Tori Wolf: 1 goal, 3 draw controls, 2 ground balls
--Reese Phipps: 1 goal, 3 ground balls
--Abigale Eash: 14 saves

UP NEXT:
--Up next, the Running Eagles remain on the road for SUN Conference action, taking on New College of Florida on Saturday, April 18.