NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Goals from Cassidy Morgan and Varin Ness sent the No. 2 FGCU women's soccer team to its seventh-straight ASUN Championship Final with a 2-0 victory over No. 6 Jacksonville Friday night. In FGCU's (13-3-1) first tournament appearance away from Fort Myers, the Eagles left little doubt, scoring in each half to put away the upset-minded Dolphins (5-11).

With the win, the Green and Blue will face No. 1 Lipscomb Sunday for the ASUN Tournament title and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Bisons defeated No. 4 Kennesaw State in the later semifinal.

"We're in the final thanks to two very good goals," said head coach Jim Blankenship. "I like the way we played and the tempo we set. Honestly, credit to Jacksonville; I thought they played very well and their back group kept them in it. I'm pleased with our performance and that we move on to play in the final."

Morgan (Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay HS) opened the scoring 29 minutes into the match to give the Eagles a deserved lead going into halftime. In the second 45 minutes, FGCU was again on the front foot, forcing JU's Brittany Hundley to make five of her seven saves. The Eagles' attack struck once more just before the hour mark on Ness' (Sogndal, Norway/Sogndal Vidaregåande Skule/Carson Newman) seventh of the season to book FGCU's seventh-straight ASUN Tournament Final appearance. The Eagles outshot the Dolphins 15-6 in the match, while Melissa Weck (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) needed to make one save.

"I thought they handled it well," Blankenship commented on his team's first tournament match away from home. "It's completely new for us but the expectation remained the same and we performed really well."

Ness nearly opened the scoring with a tremendous long-distance effort off a corner 13 minutes into the match only for her strike to knuckle toward the wrong side of the post, beginning a night of multiple great chances for the Green and Blue.

Just two minutes later, Marjorie Boilesen (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Porto Seguro/West Florida) laid the ball off perfectly to Nikki Hudson (Baltimore, Md./Roland Park County School/Rutgers) who unleashed a shot but it was blocked before landing it Hundley's arms.

After Camille Knudstrup (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins HS) picked out Ness making a run behind the Dolphin backline only for Hundley to gather a loose ball, the Eagles broke through in the 29th minute. Knudstrup's free kick in FGCU's half found Holly Fritz (Cape Coral, Fla./Mariner HS/Florida State) in the box, setting up a great chance for the Cape Coral native. While Hundley made the original save, Morgan was in perfect position to bury the rebound and put the Green and Blue in front 1-0.

As the first half neared its conclusion, Boilesen provided one final chance for the Eagles, directing a header on goal where Hundley was waiting, sending the match into the break with FGCU leading 1-0.

Fritz led the attack in the second half, putting FGCU back on the front foot with two chances in the opening moments of the second stanza both saved by Hundley.

After Fritz tested the goalkeeper again in the 56th minute, FGCU made it 2-0. Immediately following the clearance from Fritz's shot, Knudstrup found Boilesen on the throw in, who played it back to the junior. Knudstrup's service into the box found Ness who headed it home.

With 66 minutes gone, Fritz again found herself on the ball and in space but her shot narrowly missed the target to keep it 2-0.

Lindsey Patton (Jacksonville, Fla./Oakleaf HS) then got in on the action, almost putting away a corner but Hundley prevented the match from becoming 3-0.

FGCU closed out the match to advance to its seventh-straight title game and set up a third-straight title match between the Eagles and Bisons. 

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, 2016, and 2017. 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 142-50-21 (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 382-121-32 (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.