JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A five-goal outburst secured a victory over Jacksonville and a spot in the upcoming ASUN Tournament for the FGCU women's soccer team Saturday night. The Eagles (11-2-1, 4-0-1 ASUN) scored twice in the first half and three more times in the second against the Dolphins (3-9, 1-4) to remain in a tie for first place with just two matches remaining.  

"It was a great performance tonight," said head coach Jim Blankenship, who won his 140th game at FGCU. "I love the way the guys played and set the tone early. We got two phenomenal goals from Ma (Boilesen), the passing was crisp, everyone was getting in and we were able to create a lot of great chances early. And for us, it's not the first goal, but the second. The second goal takes a lot of pressure off and this sets up a big one Tuesday (against Lipscomb)."  

Two early first-half goals from Marjorie Boilesen (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Porto Seguro/West Florida) set the tone for a dominating victory in the River City for the Eagles. Then three goals in a 14-minute span in the second half assured the Green and Blue all three points for the program's first victory in Jacksonville over the Dolphins. The 5-0 win for FGCU was also the ninth shutout of the season. Holly Fritz (Cape Coral, Fla./Mariner HS/Florida State) and Camille Knudstrup (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins HS) each tallied three assists in the match.

After two early chances for Fritz and Cassidy Morgan (Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay HS), FGCU got on the board in the 13th minute and doubled its lead four minutes later thanks to a pair of Boilesen goals.

JU was whistled for offside right around midfield setting up a free kick for the Eagles. Fritz's delivery into the box landed at Knudstrup's feet, allowing the junior to flick it toward Boilesen. The sophomore powered it past Brittany Hundley to put the Green in Blue in front 1-0.

Four minutes later, it was Boilesen again, this time making a diagonal run on a Fritz corner. The Brazilian was first the ball, volleying home her second of the day to make it 2-0.

Boilesen almost made it 3-0 40 minutes into the match when Lauren Greene (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins HS) split a pair of JU defenders on a pass allowing the sophomore to get into space. Boilesen's strike beat Hundley but rang off the crossbar and away from danger.

FGCU remained dangerous in the second half, testing the Jacksonville backline in the 52nd minute of play. Varin Ness (Sogndal, Norway/Sogndal Vidaregåande Skule/Carson Newman) timed her run perfectly and found herself one-on-one with Hundley after Zoey Spitzer (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) played her into space. Ness had the angle, but the ball bounced just before her shot causing her effort to go over the bar.

The Eagles earned a corner shortly after however and took full advantage. Fritz again played a dangerous ball into the box, narrowly missing the head of Lindsey Patton (Jacksonville, Fla./Oakleaf HS) but found Knudstrup who sent it back toward Patton. In front of her friends and family, the Jacksonville-native scored her third goal of the season to put the Eagles in front 3-0.

Morgan then forced the fourth goal in, pressuring two Dolphin defenders and deflecting a clearance into the goal to increase the lead to 4-0.  

The Eagles' capped the scoring in the 67th minute, when Knudstrup again picked up an assist, this time finding Greene near the six-yard box, allowing the forward to redirect it with the outside of her foot and past the goalkeeper for FGCU's fifth of the night.

UP NEXT
Tonight's victory over Jacksonville set up a de facto championship match Tuesday against Lipscomb. The Eagles and Lady Bisons enter Tuesday with identical 4-0-1 records in ASUN play. The match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start in Fort Myers.
 
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.
 
IRMA RELIEF DONATIONS
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, many individuals and families throughout Southwest Florida are still in desperate need of assistance. To aid in those relief efforts, FGCU Athletics will be collecting donations at all Eagle home games for the immediate future. Donation items most needed include: non-perishable food, clothing, household items and first-aid supplies. Additionally, those unable to attend upcoming home games can drop off donations in canisters located in the Alico Arena lobby. All donations will be given to those hardest hit in Lee and Collier counties.
 
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, and 2016. 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. In 2016, the Eagles made it three-consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament with a third-straight ASUN Tournament title. Blankenship has guided FGCU to a 140-49-21 (71.1 W%) overall record through the first 11 seasons of the program's existence, including a 70-10-14 (81.1 W%) mark in the ASUN. Blankenship's impressive career record of 380-120-32 (74.2 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