FORT MYERS, Fla. – With ASUN Conference play in full swing the FGCU women's soccer team returns home for a crucial weekend of action. The Eagles welcome both Lipscomb and Kennesaw State to Fort Myers as the Green and Blue continue to pursue an eighth-straight ASUN title.

FGCU opens the weekend with a tournament title rematch against Lipscomb Friday at 7 p.m. The weekend then wraps up when the Eagles and Owls meet at 1 p.m. Sunday.

SERIES HISTORY
The Eagles are a combined 18-1-5 against the Bisons and Owls heading into the weekend. FGCU and Lipscomb met in last season's ASUN Championship match, with the Green and Blue grabbing a 2-0 victory to claim its fifth tournament title and secure its fifth NCAA Tournament berth in six seasons of such eligibility. Overall, the Eagles are 9-0-3 against the Lady Bisons.

Another tournament foe from 2016, FGCU and Kennesaw State played to a 2-1 victory for the Green and Blue in the semifinals of the ASUN Tournament. With that win, and a 2-1 victory earlier in the season, FGCU sits 9-1-2 all-time against Kennesaw State. FGCU's only loss to the Owls was in 2007, the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Eagles dropped that contest 3-0.

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, beginning with both of this weekend's women's soccer matches. 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.

LAST TIME OUT
The Eagles opened up conference play with a 0-0 draw at Stetson Saturday. While both sides had chances to take all three points both goalkeepers made tremendous saves, including a one-on-one opportunity in overtime for both sides, to keep the match scoreless.

ASUN AWARD WINNERS
FGCU has claimed four weekly ASUN awards through six weeks. Lindsey Patton (Jacksonville, Fla./Oakleaf HS) started off the year, claiming Defensive Player of the Week honors following a goal against #4 South Carolina and anchoring a dominant defensive effort against Georgia Southern.

Marjorie Boilesen (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Porto Seguro/West Florida) then earned Player of the Week after tallying four points on two goals and two assists, which was followed by a two-goal effort from Holly Fritz (Cape Coral, Fla./Mariner HS/Florida State) that earned the Cape Coral native the same Player of the Week honor.

With 10 saves against Arizona, Melissa Weck (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) was the latest to win Defensive Player of the Week.

RPI WATCH
The first RPI of the season was released earlier in the week with FGCU checking in at No. 43. Among non-Power 5 programs, the Eagles have the 12th-highest RPI.

One of FGCU's two losses, South Carolina remains No. 1 in RPI.

THE LADY BISONS
Lipscomb returns eight starters from last season's squad that finished 12-5-2 in the ASUN. Although the Lady Bisons enter the weekend 4-5-2 overall and 1-0-0 in the ASUN following a win over NJIT, Lipscomb still presents a challenge to FGCU's reign atop the conference. Earlier this season, Lipscomb held a 2-0 lead at then #10 Auburn only to settle for a 2-2 draw.

Olivia Doak and Ellen Lundy both return for Lipscomb. The duo combined for 14 goals and three assists last season but have only four goals and an assist between them this season.

Needing to replace three-time ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year Anna Buhigas, the Lady Bisons have passed the role to Kate Mason. The goalkeeper has allowed 13 goals over nine matches for a 1.35 goals against average.

THE OWLS
The No. 4 seed in the ASUN Tournament last season, Kennesaw State opened the year on a six-match unbeaten streak before dropping a 3-1 decision to Alabama. The Owls enter the weekend 5-3-3 and 0-0-1 in ASUN play following a draw with USC Upstate. Prior to Sunday's contest, Kennesaw State meets Stetson Friday night in DeLand.

Ashtah Das has scored four goals this season to lead the team and a group of seven goal-scorers. A trio of Owls have scored twice, including Ida Hepsoe, Erin Harris, and Abby Roth.

In net, Tiffany Sornpao has started nine matches this season with a 0.85 goals against average.  

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 66-10-14 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 45 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 30-0-3 in their last 33 regular season home conference matches. The run of 33-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	0	0	1	-	-	-
Overall	66	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 17 goals and 14 assists through ten matches this season.

REGIONAL RANKINGS
The Eagles dropped two spots to 14th in the United Soccer Coaches Association Southeast Region alongside the likes of South Carolina, Florida, UCF, Alabama, and Arkansas. FGCU currently has not received a vote in the national poll.

EAGLES RECOGNIZED BY HERO SPORTS
While FGCU is flying under the radar in the United Soccer Coaches' Poll, Hero Sports has the Eagles at #49 in their latest 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.
 
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 136-49-21 (71.1 W%) overall record through the first 11 seasons of the program's existence, including a 66-10-14 (81.1 W%) mark in the ASUN. Blankenship's impressive career record of 376-120-32 (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