FORT MYERS, Fla. – FGCU women's soccer's run of consecutive regular-season titles continues after the #25 Eagles (12-3-1, 5-1-1 ASUN) defeated UNF (9-6, 3-4 ASUN) 3-0 Saturday night. The Eagles' Senior Night win, along with Kennesaw State's victory at Lipscomb, gave FGCU a share of the regular-season title to extend the nation's longest active streak of consecutive titles to eight-straight years.

With the triumph, FGCU secured a first-round bye in the upcoming ASUN Tournament as well as the No. 2 seed.

"The biggest difference tonight was the early goal," said head coach Jim Blankenship. "I liked the way we played tonight and I liked how we played the other night. It was good to see us bounce back, they took the loss pretty hard. Tonight was an important match tonight and they came out and played for the seniors."

Following a difficult loss Tuesday night, the Eagles bounced back with first-half goals from Varin Ness (Sogndal, Norway/Sogndal Vidaregåande Skule/Carson Newman) and Camille Knudstrup (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins HS) to take a 2-0 lead into the break. A Lindsey Patton (Jacksonville, Fla./Oakleaf HS) header in the second half secured all three points while the Green and Blue waited on the results from Nashville. An hour after the Eagles won, Kennesaw State closed out its victory to give FGCU a share of the title.

Prior to the match, Ness, 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), and Elyse Hansen (Mequon, Wis./Homestead HS) were recognized before the game.

"We've been blessed to have a great run," Blankenship added on his seniors. "This group has made so many sacrifices and so many commitments. They're brilliant in the community and in the classroom and the soccer speaks for itself. We're going to miss this group."

It took 17 minutes for the Eagles to net the opener. After three corners and four shots, fantastic midfield play resulted in Ness breaking free behind the UNF backline. Holly Fritz (Cape Coral, Fla./Mariner HS/Florida State) and Hudson combined, allowing the latter to play Ness behind the defense. The senior scored the opener, tucking the ball away at the back post.

Greene almost made it 2-0 but Rhiannon Connelley made the save. The Eagles continued to go on the attack in search of a second goal, resulting in two more corners before Knudstrup made it 2-0 in the 36th minute.

Marjorie Boilesen (Jacksonville, Fla./Oakleaf HS) picked out Knudstrup along the right side and the defender floated the ball toward net and over Connelley for her third goal of the season.

Thirty seconds later, Parks volleyed a rocket toward goal but Connelley made the save, rebounding it toward Silvana Gordon (Medford, NJ/Shawnee HS) who had her shot blocked.

The Eagles went into halftime leading 2-0 but came out on the attack to start the second 45 minutes.

FGCU had to wait until the 78th minute to capitalize on a corner. Fritz's service found the head of Patton, who netted her fourth of the year.

Melissa Weck (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) made three saves in the match to secure her eighth shutout of the season and the team's tenth. In addition, for the second time in three matches, Fritz recorded multiple assists, tallying two tonight.

UP NEXT
The Eagles will face the winner of No. 3 Stetson and No. 6 Jacksonville November 3 at 5 p.m. in Nashville to open ASUN Tournament play.

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 141-50-21 (71.1 W%) overall record through the first 11 seasons of the program's existence, including a 71-11-14 (81.1 W%) mark in the ASUN. Blankenship's impressive career record of 381-121-32 (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