NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In a rematch of the 2015 ASUN Championship, the FGCU women's soccer team played to a 2-2 draw Sunday afternoon against Lipscomb. The Eagles (9-4-1, 3-0-1 ASUN) led 2-0 heading into the final 20 minutes only for Lipscomb (9-4-2, 3-1-1) to score twice in that time for the final scoreline.

"I'm happy we got four points on the road," said head coach Jim Blankenship. "Obviously a little disappointed to not be coming home with all six but four points from these two games is big. You have to give them credit for fighting back the way they did, being down 2-0 and to come back. We have to get back to work and get ready for Jacksonville now."

Tabby Tindell (Ocala, Fla./Trinity Catholic HS) gave FGCU a 1-0 lead midway through the first half, finishing off great combination play in the attacking third for the Green and Blue. The goal came after Melissa Weck (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) had to make two saves in the early stages of the contest to keep the match scoreless for the time being. FGCU quickly made it 2-0 on an Emilie Olsen (Frekhaug, Norway/Tertnes VGS) strike in the 49th minute. Tindell assisted on the goal, her 29th career assist, giving her the FGCU all-time assists record. The Eagles however would concede twice in the final 15 minutes, sending the match into overtime where neither side could find the winner.

Lipscomb had the better of play early on in the contest with Weck denying Ellen Lundy and Maycie McKay in the first seven minutes. From that point, FGCU settled in, leading to a corner in the eighth minute after Paulina Speckmaier (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) had a shot blocked.

The corner was cleared away but the Eagles continued to press forward. In the 27th minute, Megan Young (White Lake, Mich./Walled Lake Northern HS) and Speckmaier combined, freeing Tindell around 18 yards out. The senior forward found the back of the net for the ninth-straight match and 64th time in her career.

FGCU earned two additional corners before the halftime whistle blew, while withstanding a Lipscomb unit in search of an equalizer. Weck came off her line multiple times during the first 45 minutes to deny the Lady Bisons any chance of a one-on-one situation and also smartly dealt with a free kick opportunity, coming off her line to punch the ball away.  

FGCU doubled its lead in the 49th minute when Tindell found Olsen who finished off her fifth goal of the year.

Weck preserved the lead with four saves over the next 25 minutes. During that span, Lauren Greene (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins HS) had a chance to make it 3-0 in favor of FGCU but Anna Buhigas made the save.

The match changed in the 77th minute when Lipscomb was awarded a penalty. Ellen Lundy converted, making it 2-1 in favor of FGCU. Lipscomb had another chance in the 82nd minute saved by Weck before tying the match on a failed clearance with less than two minutes remaining in regulation. Once again, it was Lundy who scored for the Bisons.

FGCU had the better chances in both overtimes. Ali Rogers (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) had a shot saved by Buhigas one minute in to overtime. The rebound fell to Tindell who's shot was blocked by the Bisons. In the final moment of the first overtime, Tindell had another shot saved, sending the match into the second overtime.

There was one shot a piece with Speckmaier sending a shot high in the 109th minute, which proved to be the last chance for FGCU, resulting in the 2-2 draw.

FGCU was outshot 13-11 in the contest while Weck made seven saves.

UP NEXT
FGCU returns home to face Jacksonville Saturday night. The Eagles will honor six departing seniors prior to the contest.

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 124-46-20 (70.5 W%) overall record through the first 10 seasons of the program's existence, including a 63-10-11 (81.7 W%) mark in the ASUN. Blankenship's impressive career record of 364-117-31 (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.