FORT MYERS, Fla. – The #25 FGCU women's soccer team looks to rebound following its first loss to a conference opponent since 2012 when the Eagles welcome UNF to The Nest Saturday. The match against the Ospreys also marks Senior Night for eight seniors who will play their final match at the FGCU Soccer Complex.

In addition, Saturday's will also feature a halftime presentation to honor Alumnae Day. The match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start in Fort Myers
 
SERIES HISTORY
FGCU is 9-1-1 all-time against UNF including a stretch of four-straight victories. FGCU's only loss to UNF came in 2012, a 2-0 defeat in Jacksonville. In the 11 previous matches, the Eagles have outscored the Ospreys 23-4. In addition, FGCU has only conceded one goal at home opposite UNF.
 
SENIOR SENDOFF
FGCU will honor eight seniors prior to Saturday's finale. Paige Law (Sanibel Island, Fla./Bishop Verot/Stetson), Lauren Greene (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins HS), Nikki Hudson (Baltimore, Md./Roland Park County School/Rutgers), Kiana Rugar (New Fairfield, Conn./New Fairfield HS/Albany), Ashley Parks (St. Louis, Mo./Lafayette HS), Meaghan Mulligan (Freehold, N.J./Colts Neck High School/Tennessee), Varin Ness (Sogndal, Norway/Sogndal Vidaregåande Skule/Carson Newman), and Elyse Hansen (Mequon, Wis./Homestead HS) will take the field one final time at home in their FGCU careers.

The senior class, including a redshirt season, has led FGCU to three NCAA Tournaments appearances, four ASUN regular season titles, 69 total wins, and 37 conference victories.
 
TOP 25 INTRO
Late Monday, TopDrawerSoccer.com released its latest Top 25 poll featuring FGCU as the #25 team in the country.

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
While Tuesday's loss prevented FGCU from hosting the ASUN Championships for the first time since 2010, FGCU can still earn a share of the regular season title with a win and a Lipscomb loss against Kennesaw State.

LAST TIME OUT
The Eagles were upset by Lipscomb Tuesday night in Fort Myers, bringing an end to two impressive streaks. With the loss, FGCU's run of 49-straight unbeaten against conference opponents came to an end. The Eagles were one match from tying the third-longest streak in NCAA history.

In addition, the loss marked the first loss at home to a conference foe since 2009, a run of 34-straight matches, which stood as the third-longest active streak in the country.

FGCU outshot Lipscomb 15-6 and had the majority of the chances, but a 77th minute penalty kick proved to be the difference as the Eagles fell 1-0.

THE OSPREYS
UNF secured a spot in the ASUN Tournament last week despite dropping its match to Stetson. At 9-5, the Ospreys are looking to secure their first 10-win season since 2006. In addition, their 3-3 mark in ASUN play is good for fourth currently, matching what would be their highest finish in the league since 2014.

UNF's success this season has hinged largely on the play on Thais Reiss, whose six goals lead the Ospreys. Reiss also has an assist in her freshman campaign. Krista Colubiale adds three goals to the UNF attack along with two assists.

In goal, Rhiannon Conelley has allowed 16 goals over nearly 1300 minutes for a 1.11 goals against average.

ASUN AWARD WINNERS
For the seventh time in nine weeks, an Eagle claimed a weekly conference honor. Camille Knudstrup (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins HS) 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)
 
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	4	2.93 A/Gm
Total Goals	4	42
Total Assists	5	44
Total Points	5	128
Points Per Game	6	8.53 Pts/Gm
Scoring Offense	7	2.8 G/Gm
Shutout Percentage	22	60.0%
Goals Against Average	25	.591
Win-Loss-Tie Percentage	29	.767

 
Individually:

Category	Player	Rank	Value
Total Points	Marjorie Boilesen	12	27
Points Per Game	Marjorie Boilesen	13	1.8 Pts/Gm
Total Goals	Marjorie Boilesen	15	11
Goals Per Game	Marjorie Boilesen	18	0.73 G/Gm
Total Assists	Holly Fritz	24	7
Shutouts	Melissa Weck	28	7.2
Goals Against Average	Melissa Weck	30	0.619

 
LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE
At 11-3-1 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.

Two 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' second 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
No. 1 Lipscomb*	16	5	0	1	8	5	3
FGCU*	13	4	1	1	11	3	1
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
Jacksonville	6	2	4	0	4	9	0
USC Upstate	4	1	4	1	6	9	1
NJIT	3	1	5	0	7	8	0

*clinched a berth in the ASUN Tournament
This week's schedule:

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

As part of that impressive run, the Green and Blue were unbeaten over the course of 49 matches against conference foes, including the conference tournament.  From 2012 to 2017, the streak was the fourth-longest in NCAA history.

FGCU also maintains an impressive home record against ASUN foes. The Eagles are 31-1-3 in their last 35 regular season home conference matches. The run of 34-straight unbeaten prior to Tuesday's loss was third-longest in the country at the time.

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	1	1	-	-	-
Overall	70	11	14	11	0	1

_{*Indicates ASUN Regular Season Title
& Indicates ASUN Tournament Title and NCAA Tournament berth}

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 Eagles matched their highest regional ranking, checking in at 12th Tuesday 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 140-50-21 (71.1 W%) overall record through the first 11 seasons of the program's existence, including a 70-11-14 (81.1 W%) mark in the ASUN. Blankenship's impressive career record of 380-121-32 (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