SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The FGCU women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to San Diego State University Sunday evening on the West Coast. With the loss at the SDSU Sports Deck, the Eagles fall to 3-2-1 on the year, while the Aztecs move to 3-2.
 
Despite a handful of chances from each side, the Eagles and Aztecs entered halftime in a scoreless tie. Following the break, the Eagles increased their offensive pressure to begin the second half but saw all attempts stopped by the SDSU defensive line. The Aztecs broke the tie in the 69th minute on a breakaway and maintained the advantage through the final whistle to earn the win.
 
Overall, FGCU outshot SDSU 11-10 and produced three shots on goal. Senior Brittany Brown (Rochester, N.Y./Greece-Athena High School) made just one save on the night.
 
"I'm proud of the way we played tonight," said head coach Jim Blankenship. "We showed a lot of promise, even without Tabby [Tindell] and Ashley [Parks] in the lineup, and we had the opportunity to win against a good team. Unfortunately, we gave up a goal on a strong counter attack and we weren't able to respond."
 
The Aztecs started the game with a free kick near the right sideline just outside the penalty box in the 10th minute. The home team used the opportunity to fire a shot but the FGCU wall blocked the shot to stifle the chance. SDSU maintained control of the ball on the play and got a shot off from inside the box. Brown dove right to stop the chance, maintaining a shutout and recording her only save of the day.
 
Just a few minutes later, SDSU forward Angela Mitchell won a free ball at the midfield where she beat the FGCU defense and sprinted toward the goal. Brown challenged the forward one-on-one outside the box and used a clean tackle to stop the SDSU scoring opportunity.
 
FGCU created its first scoring threat in the 27th minute when Shea Rhoney (Lithia, Fla./Newsome High School) fired a free kick into the box from the left sideline. The SDSU defense stopped the attempt but Camille Knudstrup (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins High School) immediately responded with another shot for the Eagles. Despite the quick attack, Knudstrup's shot went high to keep the 0-0 score.
 
The Eagles created three more chances before the half with shots from Yazmin Velez (Venice, Fla./Venice High School), Paulina Speckmaier (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) and Nikki Hudson (Baltimore, Md./Roland Park Country School/Rutgers) but were unable to find the back of the net.
 
After the first 45 minutes of play, the Green and Blue held a 5-3 advantage in shots but the game remained scoreless.
 
Both teams entered the second half with a stronger offensive attack and the Eagles saw another quick opportunity from Speckmaier in the 47th minute. The forward capitalized on the hesitation of the SDSU backline and fired a shot from 25-yards out that was saved by the Aztec keeper.
 
The teams traded wide shots before a corner kick for the Aztecs set up another threat for the home team. FGCU defended the initial kick but in the aftermath of the clear, SDSU took a shot that hit the right post.
 
In the 69th minute, SDSU sparked a counterattack following an FGCU corner kick. The Aztecs fed Mitchell at the midfield after a run down the left sideline. Mitchell pushed past the backline and took a breakaway to the right side of the box. Mitchell aimed for the far post and found the back of the net to push the Aztecs ahead 1-0 with 20 minutes to play.
 
Meaghan Mulligan (Freehold, N.J./Colts Neck High School/Tennessee) responded quickly for the Eagles with a shot in the 72nd minute but the attempt went wide.
 
FGCU saw a strong shot from Ally Kasun (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield High School) in the 83rd minute but again was halted at the goal line. The long-range shot brought the SDSU keeper off her line to stop the late attempt.
 
SDSU maintained the 1-0 shutout through the 90th minute to give FGCU its second-consecutive loss and push the Green and Blue to 3-2-1 on the year.
 
The Eagles return to the FGCU Soccer Complex for a pair of home games next weekend. FGCU will host The University of Miami Friday, Sept. 11 in a 7 p.m. kickoff and will take on FIU Sunday, Sept. 13 with a 1 p.m. start.
 
COACH JIM BLANKENSHIP
A veteran of over two decades in collegiate coaching, head coach Jim Blankenship, who was named the 2012 and 2013 A-Sun Coach of the Year as well, has built FGCU women's soccer into a yearly contender in the Atlantic Sun Conference and a rising program in the South Region in just eight seasons. Blankenship, who was recently ranked the no. 6 collegiate coach nationally by AllWhiteKit.com, started the program in 2007 and has since guided the Eagles to eight double-digit win seasons, culminating with Atlantic Sun Regular Season Championships in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. In 2011 and 2012 he also led the Eagles to back-to-back A-Sun tournament championships and became the first team in the history of the university to make it to the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles then won the 2014 A-Sun tournament and hosted the first NCAA Championship event on campus when it welcomed Auburn in front of a record crowd. Blankenship has guided FGCU to a 104-38-18 overall record through the first eight-plus seasons of the program's existence, including a 54-9-9 mark in the A-Sun. Blankenship's impressive career record of 344-109-29 over 25 seasons has come while leading FGCU, the University of Miami, Lynn University and St. Thomas University.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For constant, news, photos, videos and updates you can follow the women's soccer team on Twitter @FGCU_WSoccer, on Instagram @FGCU_WSoccer or on Facebook: Facebook.com/FGCUWSoccer. You can also find FGCU athletics on YouTube by visiting YouTube.com/FGCUEagles.
 
TICKETS
Single-game tickets for FGCU Women's Soccer are available at a cost of $7 for adults and $5 for groups of ten (10) or more. Season tickets are also available. For more ticket information and additional deals, visit FGCUathletics.com/tickets, call or visit the ticket office at 239-590-7145.
 
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.