FORT MYERS, Fla. – Searching for its first home win of the season, the FGCU women's soccer team received a late winner off the head of Tabby Tindell to defeat FIU 1-0 Thursday night. Battling the outer bands of Hurricane Hermine, the Eagles and Panthers played through 40 mph wind gusts throughout the match and rain during the second half. Tindell's first goal of the year in the 80th minute broke the deadlock, moving FGCU to 2-2 on the year while sending FIU to 0-3-1 in 2016.

"It wasn't our best performance but it says a lot that we found a way to win," said head coach Jim Blankenship. "The first half was pretty uneventful. FIU did a phenomenal job in preparation with their system and how they played it. We talked about being more intense and aggressive and going at them. We only had three shots in the first half and we kept choosing to play the ball backwards. We made it a bit easier for them because we weren't engaged in the attacking third. That changed in the second half when our guys had more energy and ultimately got the goal for it. I'm happy for a win and it's important to get on the right side."
 











The start was less than ideal for the Green and Blue who ended the first 45 minutes with minimal chances and trailing in nearly every category. But with the match scoreless, FGCU came out the stronger side in the second half and took control of the match. It wasn't until the 80th minute, against the wind and rain that FGCU would finally break through. Freshman Emilie Olsen (Frekhaug, Norway/Tertnes VGS) and senior Paulina Speckmaier (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep/Florida) collected the assists on Tindell's (Ocala, Fla./Trinity Catholic HS) first goal of the season, giving FGCU a 1-0 win over its in-state rivals. The goal was also the 53rd career goal for Tindell, moving her into a tie for fifth all-time in ASUN history.

Having won five-straight matches against the Panthers, the Eagles looked to press forward from the start and chose to play with wind gusts reaching 40 mph at their backs. The wind would not benefit FGCU to a great extent however, as the Eagles only tallied three shots in the opening half, the first of which off the foot of Olsen in the 15th minute. Tindell gathered the ball on the right side of the field, quickly beat her defender, raced toward the endline and tried to pick out Olsen in front of goal. The freshman was first to the ball but her shot was blocked before it would truly test FIU goalkeeper Sophie Trujillo. Almost immediately after Olsen's shot, fellow freshman Tori Dorr (Vero Beach, Fla./Vero Beach HS) found herself in the right spot, settling a loose ball in the box and forcing Trujillo to make her first save.

From that point on, the Panthers would have the better of the play, outshooting FGCU 6-3 but only putting one on target. Melissa Weck (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) made her lone save of the match in the 31st minute, keeping Paula Quintero off the scoresheet. FIU earned three corners in a four minute period, producing only one shot in that span.

Tindell opened the action early in the second half with a shot that missed just to the left of goal followed by an Ali Rogers (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) shot that was off the mark as well. Despite keeping the Panther offense in check during the early stages of the second half, it was FIU that had the best chance in that time. In the 66th minute, Lyrik Fryer beat Weck to her right but her shot hit off the post, keeping the match scoreless for the time being.

It was Tindell again to get FGCU pushing forward, earning a corner for the Eagles in the 69th minute. Meaghan Mulligan's (Freehold, N.J./Colts Neck High School/Tennessee) service found Nikki Hudson (Baltimore, Md./Roland Park County School/Rutgers) who struck the ball with her first touch only for it to end up in the arms of Trujillo. Tindell produced the next chance for FGCU, curling a shot from 18 yards out but again, directly into the arms of the Panther 'keeper.

FGCU broke through in the 80th minute when Olsen sped past the Panther defense along the right side of the field and played Speckmaier just outside the box. The senior settled the pass and found Tindell who was making a run toward the penalty spot. The midfielder played a perfect ball and Tindell rose above her defender and the goalkeeper, finding the back of the net for her first goal of the year.

The Eagles would run out the clock but not without one last attempt by the Panthers. FIU played a long ball up field, only for Ashley Parks (St. Louis, Mo./Lafayette HS) to clear the ball away with FIU hoping for a last minute penalty. The referee waived off any thought of a foul as the clock ran out.

Weck made only one save for her second shutout and second win of 2016. Tindell produced five shots, three on goal, in the match. Rogers recorded two shots and five Eagles tallied one shot.

UP NEXT
FGCU wraps up a four-match home stand Sunday against Alabama. The Eagles and Crimson Tide are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. at the FGCU Soccer Complex.

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 117-43-19 (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 357-114-30 (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.