FORT MYERS, Fla. – Fresh off its first home win of the season, the FGCU women's soccer team concludes a span of four-straight matches at the FGCU Soccer Complex with a Sunday contest against Alabama. The match against the Crimson Tide is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
The match marks Camper Day at the FGCU Soccer Complex, any youth wearing an FGCU soccer shirt receives free admission to the match. For fans who cannot attend, the match will be streamed on ASUN.tv and live stats will also be available on FGCUathletics.com.
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
Feeling minor effects of Hurricane Hermine, the Eagles had to wait until late in the match to pull ahead of in-state rivals FIU Thursday. FGCU got the winner off a header by
Tabby Tindell (Ocala, Fla./Trinity Catholic HS) who finished off a cross from
Paulina Speckmaier (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep/Florida).
Emilie Olsen (Frekhaug, Norway/Tertnes VGS) played a large role in the goal, beating her defender along the line while making a 30-yard run.
Melissa Weck (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) earned her second career shutout, making one save in the match. The win moved FGCU to 2-2 on the year and 1-1 at The Nest in 2016.
With two goals in the opening weekend,
Ali Rogers (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) continues to lead the team in goals scored, followed closely by Tindell.
SCOUTING ALABAMA
Entering the weekend undefeated, Alabama traveled to USF Friday to open the weekend. The Tide kept pace with the No. 20 Bulls, but the hosts prevailed 1-0 with a goal in the 77th minute, sending the Tide to Fort Myers with a 4-1 record.
The early success for Alabama this season is thanks in part to six goals from Lacey Clarida, who leads the team with 13 points. Abbie Boswell has contributed three goals and five assists this season while four other Alabama players have added a goal this season.
In net, Alabama goalkeepers have only allowed three goals in five matches. Kat Stratton has earned the bulk of the time in goal, posting a sub-1.00 goals against average. Emilie Saksvig has played just over 30 minutes for Alabama, making one save in that time.
This is the first ever meeting between the Eagles and Tide, but FGCU has faced SEC opponents before. FGCU has three wins over current-SEC members, having faced Arkansas, Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Florida, Texas A&M, and South Carolina.
PROTECT THE NEST
FGCU holds a 62-16-10 (.761) record all-time at the FGCU Soccer Complex. However since 2012, the Eagles boast a 34-5-2 (.875) 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 goal and 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 eight more 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 more 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 |
Tabby Tindell
Stine Kloster |
FGCU 13-16
JU 97-00 |
53
53 |
| 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 |
129 |
| 8 |
Stine Kloster |
JU 97-00 |
126 |
| 9 |
Keri Zwikker |
JU 05-08 |
122 |
| 10 |
Chandra Yorgason |
GSU 97-00 |
117 |
UP NEXT
It's another early weekend start for the Eagles who head to Coral Gables for a Thursday night match against Miami. The Eagles and Hurricanes are scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.
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.
