FMU Women’s Soccer Open 2021 Season On The Road At Ave Maria Saturday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (0-0) at Ave Maria University Gyrenes (3-1)
When: Saturday, September 4, 2021
Where: Ave Maria University, Ave Maria, Fla. | Gyrene Field
Kickoff: 5 p.m.
Last Meeting: Sept. 19, 2020, Loss 1-7
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Since taking over as head coach of Florida Memorial University's women's soccer program, Anna Maliszewska has been taking steps to change the culture and fortunes of the team. Increasing the roster size, holding team bonding experiences, and just raising the overall level of accountability and expectation within the program have all been positive steps taken.

Now FMU hopes to see those steps translate into on-field performance as the Lady Lions will travel to Ave Maria University to play its 2021 regular season opener Saturday at Gyrene Field.

The match, which is set for a 5 p.m. kickoff, will be true test for Florida Memorial as Ave Maria (3-1) has already played four matches this season and has shown itself to be a formidable offensive team.

During its preseason exhibition match, Florida Memorial did show it has the defensive chops as a team to stifle an opponent's offensive attack – holding Atlantis University scoreless over the 90-minute friendly.

Freshman goalkeeper Hailey Ilijin has flashed great potential to be a defensive stalwart and on-field leader for the Lions.

Where Malisewska wants to see the most improvement, though, is in the team's offensive output. Florida Memorial only put one goal on the board over the course of its four games of the COVID-shortened 2020 season and had just four total goals during the 2019 season.

Freshmen forwards Amealia Smith and Kelsey Akins, who was named a player to watch by the Sun Conference during the preseason, have been charged with infusing some scoring punch into the Lions' lineup while senior midfielders and returning scoring leaders Mariana Rincon and Divana D'Cesare continue to hold the rope as threats to put the ball in the net.

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Instagram: @GoFMULions/@FMUWSOC | Twitter: @GoFMULions | YouTube: Official FMU Lions

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Players Mentioned

#9 Kelsey Akins: F; 5' 2"; Freshman

#34 Hailey Ilijin: GK; 5' 5"; Freshman

#22 Mariana Rincon: CM; 5' 6"; Senior

#23 Divana D'Cesare: CM/RW; 5' 4"; Senior

#7 Amealia Smith: F; 5' 3"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#9 Kelsey Akins
: 5' 2"; Freshman
: F

#34 Hailey Ilijin
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: GK

#22 Mariana Rincon
: 5' 6"; Senior
: CM

#23 Divana D'Cesare
: 5' 4"; Senior
: CM/RW

#7 Amealia Smith
: 5' 3"; Freshman
: F

Florida Memorial University Athletics

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned