STATESBORO, Ga. – Three second-half goals from three different newcomers set the tone for a 3-0 FGCU victory over Georgia Southern Friday night. The trio of goals allowed the Green and Blue to start the year 1-0, meanwhile the hosts begin 0-1.
 
Freshman Hope Van Wagner scored 93 seconds into the second half after both sides combined for just one shot in the opening 45 minutes to give the visitors the edge. FGCU later added goals from transfers Marjorie Boilesen and Kiana Rugar to close out the match.
 
"I was really happy with the result," said head coach Jim Blankenship. "It was a good start to the season and I hope we can build from it. To get a goal that early in the second half really lifted us and we were able to play with more urgency."
 
From the opening whistle of the second half, FGCU was on the attack forcing the hosts onto their heels. Varin Ness (Sogndal, Norway/Sogndal Vidaregåande Skule/Carson Newman) started the attack, winning the ball at midfield as Georgia Southern attempted to push forward. With numbers in their favor, Ness started the counter and found Boilesen (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Porto Seguro/West Florida) who settled it with her chest and found Van Wagner (Avon, Ind./Avon HS) making a run toward the six-yard box. The freshman settled the ball with both a defender and the goalkeeper in close proximity, turned and slotted home the first goal of the match and her career.
 
Minutes later, the Green and Blue were on the attack again as Zoey Spitzer (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) elected to play direct toward Ness who collected a misplayed ball from the backline. The Norwegian international nearly picked out a streaking Nikki Hudson (Baltimore, Md./Roland Park County School/Rutgers) only for her pass to be intercepted.
 
In the 60th minute, the Green and Blue pushed forward again in search of a second goal. Spitzer began the attack, making a run from the midfield and playing a perfect ball toward Ness inside the box. The goalkeeper dispossessed Ness briefly, only for her to find Emilie Olsen (Frekhaug, Norway/Tertnes VGS) near the penalty spot. The sophomore struck the ball with her first touch but it was deflected and blocked off the line to keep the score 1-0.
 
The visiting Eagles waited until the 73rd minute to double their lead. Boilesen was brought down 40 yards from goal, resulting in a free kick. Holly Fritz's (Cape Coral, Fla./Mariner HS/Florida State) service into the box was not properly dealt with, allowing Lauren Greene (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins HS) to head the ball toward Boilesen who volleyed home FGCU's second of the match.
 
With a victory all but secured, Petra Smetkova (Korycany, Czech Republic/Klvanovo Gymnazium Kyjov/Arkansas) played the ball into the corner looking for Silvana Gordon (Medford, NJ/Shawnee HS). The sophomore won the ball near the end line and found a wide-open Kiana Rugar (New Fairfield, Conn./New Fairfield HS/Albany) who headed home the third goal of the match.
 
Melissa Weck (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) earned her 15th victory and 11th career shutout with the help of a sensational defensive performance. FGCU held the hosts to just one shot, none on goal. This marks the second consecutive regular season contest the Eagles held an opponent to zero shots on goal after holding UNF to zero shots on goal to end last season. The single shot allowed is the lowest since 2015 when the Green and Blue stifled opponents on three separate occasions.

UP NEXT
The Eagles travel north to Columbia, South Carolina, to face the #4 Gamecocks Sunday at 7 p.m. South Carolina defeated UCF 2-0 earlier in the day to begin 2017.
 
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.
 
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 130-47-20 (70.7 W%) overall record through the first 10 seasons of the program's existence, including a 66-10-11 (81.8 W%) mark in the ASUN. Blankenship's impressive career record of 370-118-31 (74.3 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.