FORT MYERS, Fla. – Only two matches remain in the regular season and the #25 FGCU women's soccer team is once again in position to end the year atop the ASUN Conference standings. The first of the final two games is a pivotal matchup between the Eagles and the Lipscomb Lady Bisons, slated for a 7 p.m. start Tuesday in Fort Myers.

Tuesday's match is the makeup from the postponed contest earlier in the season and it also marks the Eagles' annual Pink Game and fans are encouraged to wear pink. Shirts will also be available at the FGCU Soccer Complex to purchase with all proceeds going to Barbara's Friends – Golisano Children's Hospital's Cancer Fund.

SERIES HISTORY
FGCU and Lipscomb are no strangers to potential title-winning matches. In each of the last three seasons, the Eagles and Lady Bisons have finished first and second, respectively, in the ASUN. In addition, each of the last two ASUN Championship Finals has featured the same two sides.

Since the Eagles first made the trip to Nashville in 2007, FGCU is 9-0-3 all-time against Lipscomb, including a 4-0-1 mark in Fort Myers, which includes two ASUN Tournament victories.

The last time FGCU played host to Lipscomb during the regular season, FGCU came away with a 2-1 victory in overtime. However last season in Nashville, the two sides played to a 2-2 stalemate.

TOP 25 INTRO
Late Monday, TopDrawerSoccer.com released its latest Top 25 poll featuring FGCU as the #25 team in the country. The Eagles, who were not receiving votes last week, jumped into the Top 25 behind a six-game unbeaten streak and impressive 11-2-1 overall record.

The Green and Blue were last featured in TopDrawer's poll at the beginning of the 2016 season, entering as the #24 team in the country. FGCU's highest ranking came at the end of the 2015 season, ending the year at #23.

WHAT'S AT STAKE
A win Tuesday night gives FGCU the head-to-head tiebreaker heading into Saturday's season-finale against UNF. Meanwhile, a draw still puts the Eagles in a great position as the second tiebreaker is goal differential. The Eagles are currently outscoring opponents 42-8 this season.

In addition, a win Tuesday night would secure the No. 1 seed in the upcoming ASUN Tournament as well as at least a share of the regular season crown.

TIEBREAK SCENARIOS
Level on 13 points with two matches remaining, the Eagles and Lady Bisons may be subject to tiebreaker procedures come Saturday to determine who will be the No. 1 seed heading into the ASUN Tournament. The tiebreakers are:

1) Head-to-head results among teams involved in the tie
2) Goal differential versus teams involved in the tie
3) Goal differential in overall conference play
4)Goals for in overall conference play
5) Non-conference RPI

LAST TIME OUT
FGCU needed a victory to maintain its position atop the standings Saturday night in Jacksonville and a five-goal performance secured the win over the Dolphins. Marjorie Boilesen (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Porto Seguro/West Florida) opened the scoring in the first half and doubled her output within 16 minutes to give FGCU a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.

The Green and Blue never let off, as Lindsey Patton (Jacksonville, Fla./Oakleaf HS) scored in her hometown to make it 3-0 after 52 minutes.
Goals from Cassidy Morgan (Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay HS) and Lauren Greene (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins HS) two minutes apart finished off the scoring and the 5-0 win.

Holly Fritz (Cape Coral, Fla./Mariner HS/Florida State) and Camille Knudstrup (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins HS) both tallied three assists in the contest, matching the highest single-game total in FGCU program history.

ASUN AWARD WINNERS
For the seventh time in nine weeks, an Eagle claimed a weekly conference honor. Knudstrup became the latest winner and the fourth Defensive Player of the Week of the year for FGCU.

Knudstrup's three assists and her defensive work earned her the award as the junior is posting a career-year with two matches remaining.
The list of award-winners include:

Aug. 21 – Lindsey Patton (Defensive Player of the Week)
Aug. 28 – Marjorie Boilesen (Player of the Week)
Sept. 5 – Holly Fritz (Player of the Week)
Sept. 11 – Melissa Weck (Defensive Player of the Week
Oct. 2 – Nikki Hudson (Player of the Week)
Oct. 9 – Zoey Spitzer (Defensive Player of the Week)
Oct. 16 – Camille Knudstrup (Defensive Player of the Week)

THE LADY BISONS
Two come-from-behind victories have sparked Lipscomb to a 4-0-1 record and a 7-5-3 mark overall in 2017. In each of the last two matches, the Lady Bisons have fallen behind only to come back and claim victory. On Oct. 8, Lipscomb trailed 2-0 at halftime to JU and then 3-2 with less than 20 minutes remaining before winning 4-3 in double overtime. Then on Saturday, USC Upstate led 2-1 early in the second half but once again the Bisons came back to win 3-2.

Ellen Lundy has scored three goals in the last three matches to help Lipscomb join FGCU at the top of the standing. Lundy now has six goals on the season to lead the Lady Bisons. Olivia Doak and Leah Cernicky each have three this season.

Defensively, Lipscomb is replacing three-time ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year and appear to have found the answer in Kate Mason. The redshirt-junior has three clean sheets this season and a 1.35 goals against average to her name.
 
RPI WATCH
FGCU dropped slightly in the latest RPI, checking in at No. 31. Among non-Power 5 programs, the Eagles have the eighth-highest RPI. In comparison, when FGCU hosted Auburn in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament in 2014, the Eagles were No. 26.
 
WHERE THEY RANK
FGCU is well represented both as a team and individually among the nation's statistical leaders heading into the weekend. Below is a full listing of FGCU's team and individual national ranks.

As a team:

Category	Rank	Value
Assists Per Game	3	3.14 A/Gm
Total Assists	3	44
Scoring Offense	4	3.00 G/Gm
Total Goals	4	42
Points Per Game	5	9.14 Pts/Gm
Total Points	5	128
Win-Loss-Tie Percentage	15	.821
Shutout Percentage	16	64.3%
Goals Against Average	19	.56
Save Percentage	27	.855

Individually:

Category	Player	Rank	Value
Points Per Game	Marjorie Boilesen	10	1.93 Pts/Gm
Total Points	Marjorie Boilesen	10	27
Total Goals	Marjorie Boilesen	13	11
Goals Per Game	Marjorie Boilesen	15	0.79 G/Gm
Total Assists	Holly Fritz	21	7
Shutouts	Melissa Weck	23	6.2
Goals Against Average	Melissa Weck	28	0.59
Save Percentage	Melissa Weck	33	.852

 
LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE
At 11-2-1 overall, FGCU is closing in on yet another potentially historic campaign. A closer look at the schedule shows just how impressive the season has been.

Both of FGCU's losses have come against RPI Top 100 programs, including the No. 1 overall team in terms of RPI and the #3 team overall in the latest coaches poll, South Carolina. The 2-1 loss to the Gamecocks was controversial, ultimately decided by a penalty decision late in the match.

The Eagles' other loss, a 2-1 decision to Arizona State (No. 72), nearly went in FGCU's favor. The Green and Blue had multiple chances early against the Sun Devils but they could not find the back of the net early.

FGCU's biggest win this season is a 1-0 result at RPI No. 21 Arizona. The Wildcats are currently receiving six votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches Association poll.

ASUN STANDINGS AND FIXTURES
The current ASUN standings entering the final week of action:

		ASUN Record			Overall Record
School	Pts	W	L	T	W	L	T
FGCU*	13	4	0	1	11	2	1
Lipscomb*	13	4	0	1	7	5	3
Stetson*	11	3	1	2	8	3	3
UNF*	9	3	3	0	9	5	0
Kennesaw State	7	2	3	1	7	6	3
USC Upstate	4	1	3	1	6	8	1
NJIT	3	1	5	0	7	8	0
Jacksonville	3	1	4	0	3	9	0

 *Clinched ASUN Tournament spot

This week's schedule:
Tuesday, Oct. 17
USC Upstate @ Jacksonville – 4 PM
Lipscomb @ FGCU – 7 PM


Wednesday, Oct. 18
Delaware St. @ NJIT – 3 PM

Saturday, Oct. 21
USC Upstate @ NJIT – 1 PM
Jacksonville @ Stetson – 7 PM
UNF @ FGCU – 7 PM
Kennesaw State @ Lipscomb – 7 PM

ASUN DOMINATION
Since joining the ASUN conference, the Eagles have been the gold-standard. For seven-straight seasons, the Green and Blue have lifted the ASUN regular season trophy and for five of the last six seasons, FGCU has earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Under Jim Blankenship, the Eagles hold a 70-10-14 record against conference foes in the regular season, a regular that only improves when the conference tournament is included (11-0-1).

As part of that impressive run, the Green and Blue are unbeaten in their last 49 matches against conference foes, including the conference tournament. That streak stands as the longest-active streak in the country and the fourth-longest ever.

FGCU also maintains an impressive home record against ASUN foes. The Eagles are 31-0-3 in their last 34 regular season home conference matches. The run of 34-straight unbeaten is the third-longest in the country.

Below is FGCU's record during the regular season and the conference tournament:

	ASUN Regular Season			ASUN Tournament
Year	W	L	T	W	L	T
2007	7	4	0	-	-	-
2008	5	2	3	-	-	-
2009%	6	2	2	-	-	-
2010*	8	0	2	-	-	-
2011*&	7	1	1	2	0	0
2012*&^	7	1	1	2	0	0
2013*	7	0	2	1	0	1
2014*&	7	0	0	2	0	0
2015*&	6	0	1	2	0	0
2016*&	6	0	1	2	0	0
2017	4	0	1	-	-	-
Overall	70	10	14	11	0	1

_{*Indicates ASUN Regular Season Title
& Indicates ASUN Tournament Title and NCAA Tournament berth
^ FGCU's last loss against an ASUN opponent: Oct. 5, 2012 at UNF (2-0)
% FGCU's last home loss to an ASUN opponent: Oct. 3, 2009 vs. Campbell (1-0)}

INCOMING CLASS RECEIVES PRAISE
The 13 newcomers brought in by head coach Jim Blankenship ranks among the best incoming classes in the United States. According to a frequent researcher and respected soccer-community member, FGCU has the 17th-best incoming class across all Division I programs. This class, according to Soccerhunter on BigSoccer.com, has FGCU in front on programs such as Florida, Wake Forest, and USF.

The newcomers have already made an impact tallying 29 goals and 19 assists through 14 matches this season.

REGIONAL RANKINGS
The latest United Soccer Coaches Association Regional rankings have not been released as of Monday. Rankings, both national and regional, are released on Tuesday. The Eagles were ranked 13th in the Southeast Region alongside the likes of South Carolina, Florida, UCF, Alabama, and Arkansas. FGCU currently has not received a vote in the national poll.

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 11 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