KENNESAW, Ga. – Second half goals from Ali Rogers and Tabby Tindell gave the FGCU women's soccer team an important 2-1 road win over Kennesaw State Friday afternoon. The win pushed FGCU's winning streak to six-in-a-row and created separation between the Eagles (9-4-0, 3-0-0 ASUN) and the Owls (7-6-1, 2-2-0) in the ASUN Conference standings.

"I'm proud of our kids with the way they fought back," said head coach Jim Blankenship. "It was a good three points at a tough place to play. The second half they looked better and put a lot into it. They showed a lot of character on the road today allowing them to come back after falling behind within the first ten minutes."

The hosts went in front early in the contest but it would be all the Owls would get on the afternoon as FGCU controlled play for the better part of the match. Despite having multiple chances to tie the match in the opening stanza, including a penalty kick opportunity, the equalizer would wait until the second half. Rogers' (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) third goal of the season came at an important time for the Green and Blue. The senior leveled the match in the 58th minute, allowing Tindell (Ocala, Fla./Trinity Catholic HS) to put FGCU in front in the 77th minute. Paulina Speckmaier (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep/Florida) assisted on both goals for the Eagles and Lindsey Patton (Jacksonville, Fla./Oakleaf HS) picked up an assist as well. Leading 2-1, FGCU closed out the final 13 minutes to remain undefeated in conference play.

Kennesaw State scored on its first opportunity of the match when Ida Hepsoe finished off a cross from Cassidy Kemp from short range to put the hosts up 1-0. FGCU however would dominate from that moment on.

Trailing 1-0, the Eagles earned corners in the 19th and 20th minutes of play, but neither would lead to a dangerous opportunity. Tindell had FGCU's two best chances in the half, the first coming in the 26th minute when she found herself behind the Owl defense only for her shot to hit the post.

Meaghan Mulligan (Freehold, N.J./Colts Neck High School/Tennessee) got in on the action in the 28th minute, putting a shot on goal from point-blank range but KSU goalkeeper Mady Carter was in position to make the save at the near post.

Carter kept the Eagle off the board was once again in the 37th minute when Tindell was dragged down in the box for a penalty. Tindell stepped up to the spot but her right-footed effort was denied by Carter to keep FGCU in a 1-0 deficit.

Tindell was denied by Carter one final time in the 39th minute as the match went to halftime with the Green and Blue trailing 1-0.

It took 12 minutes for the Eagles to find the equalizer following halftime. Speckmaier played the role of midfield maestro, picking out Rogers who was making a diagonal run toward the center of the box. Speckmaier delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Rogers, who chipped Carter to tie the match.

FGCU continued to press forward, earning two corners in quick succession. The latter resulted in the ball bouncing around the KSU box only for the Owls to spring a counter the other way but the Eagles prevented any damage.

The Eagles found the winner in the 77th minute off a corner for the second consecutive match. Speckmaier's service was delivered into a dangerous area, finding the head of Patton who headed it down toward goal and Tindell snuck a shot past Carter. The goal was the 63rd of Tindell's career and proved to be the 29th match-winner of her career.

The Owls had one final chance in the 89th minute but Abby Roth's shot went well high, securing FGCU's road win.

The Eagles produced 13 shots compared to only four for the home side, including a 7-1 advantage in the second half. Melissa Weck (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) made two saves, both in the first half, for her ninth career win.

UP NEXT
FGCU remains on the road to face Lipscomb Sunday afternoon. In a rematch of the 2015 ASUN Championship, the match could ultimately decide the 2016 regular season champion. Lipscomb entered the weekend with nine points (3-0-0) while FGCU is now even with the Lady Bisons with its latest win. FGCU has one match in hand following the postponement of the Stetson match.

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.
 
COACH JIM BLANKENSHIP
A veteran of over two decades in collegiate coaching, head coach Jim Blankenship, who was named the ASUN Coach of the Year in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, has built FGCU women's soccer into a yearly contender in the ASUN Conference and a rising program in the South Region in just 10 seasons. Blankenship started the program in 2007 and has since guided the Eagles to nine double-digit win seasons, culminating with ASUN Regular Season Championships in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. In 2011 and 2012 he also led the Eagles to back-to-back ASUN Tournament titles and became the first team in the history of the university to make it to the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles went on to win the 2014 ASUN Tournament and hosted the first NCAA Championship event on campus. The Eagles earned their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance with the 2015 ASUN Tournament Championship and won their first NCAA game at USF in 2015, while finishing 24th in the nation. Blankenship has guided FGCU to a 124-46-19 (70.5 W%) overall record through the first 10 seasons of the program's existence, including a 63-10-10 (81.7 W%) mark in the ASUN. Blankenship's impressive career record of 364-117-30 (74.1 W%) over 25 seasons has come while leading FGCU, the University of Miami, Lynn University and St. Thomas University.
 
#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.