AVE MARIA, Fla. (April 14, 2023) – In what was the regular-season finale, the Webber International University women's lacrosse team battled Ave Maria University on the road on Thursday afternoon. It was a tight game but the Warriors held the lead for the majority of the game in a 13-10 victory over the Gyrenes.
 
Webber (8-5 overall, 3-3 SUN) was outnumbered by Ave Maria (6-7, 2-3) in total shots for the match, 31-20. However, the Warriors were more clinical with their shots as a higher percentage found the back of the cage.
 
The Gyrenes drew first blood less than a minute into the game. Roughly 30 seconds later, a solo-goal by Bryce Gerber quickly leveled the score. Another goal by Ave Maria a minute later regained it the lead, but only for a short time. Kaitlyn Patterson delivered a goal which tied things up yet again and the Gyrenes never regained the lead for the remainder of the game. Makayla Senter and Madison Hamilton netted back-to-back goals to hand the Warriors a 4-2 lead before Ave Maria pulled one back just before the end of the quarter.
 
Patterson and Gerber tallied early goals in the second quarter to extend Webber's lead to 6-3. The two teams traded goals the rest of the quarter with Ave Maria scoring at the buzzer to make it 8-6 at the halftime break.
 
The Gyrenes scored first in the second half to pull within one but once again, goals by Gerber and Patterson restored Webber's three-goal lead. Ave Maria would not give in as it scored two goals, cutting the deficit back to one. The Warriors scored the final goal of the quarter through Senter with just over 30 seconds left.
 
Patterson netted twice in the fourth quarter to gift Webber a four-goal advantage before the Gyrenes scored one final goal with under a minute to go.
 
Leading the way offensively was Gerber with four goals and a team-high six assists. Patterson was deadly in attack, as all six of her shots found the back of the net. She added a team-high five ground balls, three draw controls and two caused turnovers as well. Hamilton led the Warriors with six draw controls and contributed two ground balls and a caused turnover.
 
Reyanna Troupe fueled Webber on the defensive end, recording a season-high six caused turnovers followed by Alia Loydd with three. Jordyn Davidson was solid in the cage as she totaled five ground balls and 15 saves.
 
The Warriors now look to The Sun Conference tournament which will begin on Friday, April 21st, hosted by SCAD-Savannah in Savannah, Georgia.