FORT MYERS, Fla. – After a heartbreaking double-overtime defeat Sunday to officially open the home slate against No. 21 Ohio State, the FGCU women's soccer team looks to bounce back Thurs. against in-state rivals FIU. The Eagles and Panthers are slated for a 7 p.m. start at the FGCU Soccer Complex.
Thursday's in-state tussle will be streamed live on ASUN.tv for fans who cannot be in attendance. In addition, live stats will be provided on FGCUathletics.com. Fans are encouraged to wear green to Thursday's match and the first 100 Dirty Birds will receive a free koozie.
Tickets for individual matches remain at $7 for adults and $5 for youth and military. An All Sports Pass is again available at $100, which gives fans admission to all ticketed FGCU home regular season events, excluding men's and women's basketball. Group rates are also available for matches. For more information, please call the FGCU Ticket Office at 239-590-7145. Tickets can also be purchased at FGCUTickets.com.
LAST TIME OUT
FGCU welcomed two of the nation's best teams to Southwest Florida but weather forced the Eagles to only showcase their talents opposite one Power 5 foe last weekend. The Green and Blue were scheduled to face No. 9 UNC at the FGCU Soccer Complex, but lightning struck within the campus' warning area, forcing both teams to stay off the field during what should have been their warm up period. The lightning never stopped long enough for the teams to warm up and the match was officially cancelled with no make-up date around 9:30 p.m.
FGCU met No. 21 Ohio State Sunday evening and again, lightning forced both teams to stay indoors, shortening pregame. However, the weather cleared and the match started on time to give way to a physical contest. FGCU was whistled for 19 fouls but limited the Buckeyes to just three shots on goal through 110 minutes. The Eagles had three quality chances in regulation and multiple that had narrowly missed target, but could not finish any of them off. The match went into overtime where the Buckeyes took advantage of one miscue in the second overtime period to seal the victory.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
The Panthers have stumbled out of the gate with an 0-2-1 mark to open the 2016 season. FIU opened the season at Stetson with a 1-1 double overtime stalemate and followed with a 2-1 overtime loss at USF. Upon returning home, the Panthers fell 4-0 in a weather-shortened match to Wake Forest.
Alyssa Robinson has scored two of FIU's three goals on the season with Michaela Rouse tallying the other. Robinson found the back of the net four times last season to lead the team and is one of five returning goal scorers for FIU this campaign.
In goal, Sophia Trujillo has logged every minute in 2016 after splitting time with Nevena Stojakovic in 2015. Trujillo enters Thursday with a 2.64 GAA with 18 saves to her name.
FGCU is 7-1-1 all-time against the Panthers, including a current run of five-straight wins dating back to 2011. During the current stretch, FGCU has outscored FIU 10-3 while posting three shutouts. FIU's lone win in the series came in 2010 in Fort Myers, a 1-0 final in double-overtime.
Four current Eagles have played major roles in the previous three matches. Beginning in 2013,
Tabby Tindell (Ocala, Fla./Trinity Catholic HS) and
Paulina Speckmaier (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep/Florida) each scored in a 2-1 win for FGCU. The duo also scored both in goals in a 2-0 win in 2014, with Tindell providing the assist on Speckmaier's goal. Last year, it was
Ali Rogers (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) who scored the opener in a 2-0 win. Rogers was assisted by
Ashley Blanchard (Largo, Fla./Largo HS) on her goal.
PROTECT THE NEST
FGCU holds a 61-16-10 (.758) record all-time at the FGCU Soccer Complex. However since 2012, the Eagles boast a 33-5-2 (.850) mark at The Nest. FGCU has not lost more than one home contest in a single season since 2011, when the Green and Blue fell to Power 5 foes Syracuse and Miami. FGCU has wins at the FGCU Soccer Complex over Arizona (2014), Mississippi State (2013), and Arkansas (2010) as well as a tie against Ole Miss (2015).
#TINDELLTRACKER
Already atop the FGCU record books in goals scored (52) and points (127), Tindell now has her sights set on FGCU's assists record and multiple ASUN records as well. The senior forward has one assist already in 2016 and is now five assists away from tying FGCU's assists record of 28, currently held by 2013 graduate Ashley Ciesielczyk.
Should Tindell score nine goals, the Ocala-native will be tied atop the ASUN record book with 61 career goals. Should she add another goal to break the record or tally two assists, Tindell will share the title of the ASUN's all-time points leader. Centenary's Shelley Marusak (1993-1995) is currently the all-time leading goal scorer in ASUN history while Jacksonville's Marit Foss (1997-2000) headlines the ASUN's points category.
ASUN Records
Goals
| 1 |
Shelley Marusak |
Cent 93-95 |
61 |
| 2 |
Mirela Ninic |
Mercer 96-99 |
60 |
| 3 |
Jenn Stephenson |
Campbell 94-97 |
60 |
| 4 |
Kara Fitzgerald |
GSU 94-97 |
57 |
| 5 |
Stine Kloster |
JU 97-00 |
53 |
| 6 |
Tabby Tindell |
FGCU 13-16 |
52 |
| 7 |
Keri Zwikker |
JU 05-08 |
49 |
|
Leeanna Woodworth |
GW 02-05 |
49 |
| 9 |
Chandra Yorgason |
GSU 97-00 |
47 |
| 10 |
Marit Foss |
JU 97-00 |
39 |
Points
| 1 |
Marit Foss |
JU 97-00 |
148 |
| 2 |
Kara Fitzgerald |
GSU 94-97 |
143 |
| 3 |
Shelley Marusak |
Cent 93-95 |
141 |
| 4 |
Mirela Ninic |
Mercer 96-99 |
140 |
| 5 |
Leeanna Woodworth |
GWU 02-05 |
135 |
| 6 |
Jenn Stephenson |
Campbell 94-97 |
133 |
| 7 |
Tabby Tindell |
FGCU 13-16 |
127 |
| 8 |
Stine Kloster |
JU 97-00 |
126 |
| 9 |
Keri Zwikker |
JU 05-08 |
122 |
| 10 |
Chandra Yorgason |
GSU 97-00 |
117 |
UP NEXT
The weekend concludes with a match against SEC foe Alabama Sunday at 1 p.m. The Eagles and Crimson Tide meet for the first time as a four-match home stand comes to an end.
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 now 2015, 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 nine seasons. Blankenship started the program in 2007 and has since guided the Eagles to nine double-digit win seasons, culminating with Atlantic Sun 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 championships 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 host 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 116-43-19 (70.7 W%) overall record through the first ten seasons of the program's existence, including a 60-9-10 (76.2 W%) mark in the ASUN. Blankenship's impressive career record of 356-114-30 (74.3 W%) 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.
#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.
