The Ave Herald

Co-ed teams from Ave Maria University and the Ave Maria School of Law met on the soccer field Friday night in a friendly contest for "The Ave Cup" that players on both sides said they hope becomes an annual tradition. The teams were fairly evenly-matched, and the game was scoreless through the first half but John Audino and Michael Assibey scored for AMU in the second period to give the university a 2-0 victory.

The game was organized by 2nd-year law school student Steven Pawlyshyn (left, outside the Queen Mary Pub after the game), who said he wanted to "get the communities from both schools together"  to get to know each other better.

The two campuses currently are about 20 miles apart, "and many of the law school students have never been out here," Mr. Pawlyshn said afterwards, when players and spectators from both schools packed the Queen Mary Pub in the Ave Maria town center.

Sales from refreshments at the game also raised money for local charities, including the Immokalee Soccer League.

"The game was fabulous," said Mr. Audino, an AMU sophomore. "I can't wait til next year's." (right, the AMU team saying a brief prayer after the game)

Mr. Pawlyshyn said he's also looking forward to the second "Ave Cup" match but also has some interim ideas as well.

"I hope we'll do a co-ed softball game in the spring," he said.