FORT MYERS, FL- The home stretch is here for the FGCU Women's Soccer team as they begin a three game home stand on Thursday in a key ASUN matchup with the Liberty Lady Flames.
Matchup: Liberty (3-9-0, 2-2-0) @ FGCU (9-3-2, 3-3-0)
When: Oct. 11| 7 PM | FGCU Soccer Complex
Links: Video |
Stats |
Tickets |
Promotions
Coaches: Jim Blankenship (12th Season @ FGCU, 152-54-23; 28th Overall, 392-125-34) |
Lang Wedemeyer (2nd Season @ Liberty, 12-16-3; 19th Overall, 174-139-42)
LAST TIME OUT- October didn't get off to the start the Eagles were looking for last weekend as they dropped a pair of 1-0 contests to ASUN leaders NJIT and Kennesaw St. on the road.
Against the Highlanders Thursday, FGCU dominated play in the first half, outshooting NJIT 8-1, but couldn't get anything past the keeper in a scoreless first 45. That came back to bite them later on as NJIT scored on a free kick deep in the Eagles third, six minutes into the second half for the only goal of the game, earning the program's first win over FGCU.
Sunday's contest with Kennesaw followed an almost opposite script. The Owls were the aggressors early on, scoring at the midway point of the first half on a long cross into the box to take a 1-0 lead into the half. The second half was controlled by the Eagles as they pounded nine shots at the Kennesaw net, but as if it had a lid on it for the second straight game, FGCU could not get anything through, suffering another heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to fall to 3-3-0 in ASUN action.
However, the Eagles are still in prime position for one of the six ASUN playoff spots which begins October 26th. FGCU currently sits in third place with nine points, while recording a 9-3-2 overall record through 14 matches.
The Eagles are the top scoring team in the ASUN at 2.29 goals per game while also ranking first in goals allowed at just 0.62 per contest.
Evdokia Popadinova (Hadzhidimovo, Bulgaria/Nikola Vaptsarov/Northwestern Ohio) leads FGCU and the ASUN in both goals with 10 and points with 26 on the season.
Marjorie Boilesen (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Porto Seguro/West Florida), the Preseason ASUN Player of the Year ranks second in the league in assists with 7. Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Melissa Weck (Yorba Linda, California/Esperanza HS) leads the league in goals against average at 0.63 and save percentage at .859, while ranking third in shutouts with 7.
TOP DRAWER TOP 100- Junior
Marjorie Boilesen was honored by
TopDrawerSoccer.com last week as she was named one of the Top 100 players in the country by the organization. Boilesen checked in at #39 on the list and was the #3 ranked mid-major player. The Preseason ASUN Player of the Year has five goals and a team best seven assists on the year.
ASUN STANDINGS
| School |
Pts |
ASUN |
Overall |
Last Week |
| 1. Kennesaw St. |
15 |
5-1-0 |
12-3-1 |
W- Stetson (2-0), W- FGCU (1-0) |
| 2. NJIT |
12 |
4-2-0 |
10-4-1 |
W- FGCU (1-0), W- Stetson (4-2) |
| 3. FGCU |
9 |
3-3-0 |
9-3-2 |
L- NJIT (1-0), L- Kennesaw St. (1-0) |
| Lipscomb |
9 |
3-1-0 |
8-4-2 |
L- Liberty (2-1) |
| 5. North Alabama |
6 |
2-2-0 |
8-6-0 |
L- Liberty (2-0 |
| Liberty |
6 |
2-2-0 |
3-9-0 |
W- North Alabama (2-0), W- Lipscomb (2-1) |
| 7. Stetson |
4 |
1-4-1 |
4-8-3 |
L- Kennesaw St. (2-0), W- NJIT (4-2) |
| North Florida |
4 |
1-3-1 |
6-6-1 |
W- Jacksonville (1-0) |
| 9. Jacksonville |
3 |
1-4-0 |
1-11-1 |
L- North Florida (1-0) |
THIS WEEK'S ASUN SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Liberty @ FGCU- 7 PM
Friday, October 12, 2018
North Florida @ Lipscomb- 7 PM
Jacksonville @ North Alabama- 8 PM
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Kennesaw St. @ NJIT- 12 PM
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Stetson @ Liberty- 1 PM
North Florida @ North Alabama- 2 PM
Jacksonville @ Lipscomb- 2 PM
ASUN LEADERS- A number of Eagles continue to class the ASUN stat leaderboards as the season winds down.
| Goals |
|
| 1. Evdokia Popadinova (FGCU) |
10 |
| 2. Fiona Wright (NJIT) |
9 |
| 3. Shelby Wall (North Alabama) |
7 |
| 4. Riley Henry (Lipscomb) |
6 |
| Olivia Doak (Lipscomb) |
6 |
| Jenna Vollrath (Kennesaw St.) |
6 |
| Assists |
|
| 1. Shelby Wall (North Alabama) |
8 |
| 2. Marjorie Boilesen (FGCU) |
7 |
| Olivia Doak (Lipscomb) |
7 |
| 4. Evdokia Popadinova (FGCU) |
6 |
| Erin Harris (Kennesaw St.) |
6 |
| Arianna Gerber (NJIT) |
6 |
| Goals Against Average |
|
| 1. Melissa Weck (FGCU) |
0.63 |
| 2. Tiffany Sornpao (Kennesaw St.) |
0.93 |
| 3. Kate Mason (Lipscomb) |
0.95 |
| 4. Amelia Sapirman (NJIT) |
1.12 |
| 5. Shelby Thornton (North Alabama) |
1.17 |
| Save Percentage |
|
| 1. Melissa Weck (FGCU) |
.859 |
| 2. Tiffany Sornpao (Kennesaw St.) |
.840 |
| 3. Amelia Sapirman (NJIT) |
.815 |
| 4. Kate Mason (Lipscomb) |
.813 |
| 5. Emily Plotz (Stetson) |
.798 |
| Shutouts |
|
| 1. Tiffany Sornpao (Kennesaw St.) |
9 |
| 2. Amelia Sapirman (NJIT) |
8 |
| 3. Melissa Weck (FGCU) |
7 |
| 4. Rhiannon Conelly (North Florida) |
5 |
| 5. Shelby Thornton (North Alabama) |
4 |
CHART CLIMBERS- Four different Eagles find themselves in the top five in program history in different statistical categories.
| POINTS PER GAME |
ASSISTS PER GAME |
| 1. Tabby Tindell- 2.03 (13-16) |
1. Marjorie Boilesen- 0.48 (17-18) |
| 2. Evdokia Popadinova- 1.86 (18) |
2. Evdokia Popadinova- 0.43 (18) |
| 3. Marjorie Boilesen- 1.45 (17-18) |
3. Holly Fritz- 0.42 (17-18) |
| 4. Amber McCall- 1.06 (07-09) |
4. Tabby Tindell- 0.38 (13-16) |
| 5. Holly Fritz- 1.03 (17-18) |
5. Ashley Ciesielczyk- 0.37 (08-12) |
|
|
| GOALS PER GAME |
SHUTOUTS |
| 1. Tabby Tindell- 0.82 (13-16) |
1. Brittany Brown- 37.1 (12-15) |
| 2. Evdokia Popadinova- 0.71 (18) |
2. Stephanie Powers- 31 (08-11) |
| 3. Marjorie Boilesen- 0.48 (17-18) |
3. Melissa Weck- 25.3 (16-18) |
| 4. Amber McCall- 0.44 (07-09) |
4. Kirsi Keenan- 8 (07-10) |
| 5. Varin Ness- 0.42 (17) |
5. Emily Barrett- 3 (07-09) |
|
|
| SAVES |
SAVE PERCENTAGE |
| 1. Brittany Brown- 274 (12-15) |
1. Stephanie Powers- .834 (08-11) |
| 2. Stephanie Powers- 261 (08-11) |
2. Brittany Brown- .830 (12-15) |
| 3. Melissa Weck- 188 (16-18) |
3. Melissa Weck- .825 (16-18) |
| 4. Kirsi Kennan- 55 (07-10) |
4. Kirsi Keenan- .775 (07-10) |
| 5. Emily Barrett- 14 (07-09) |
5. Emily Barrett- .737 (07-09) |
|
|
| GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE |
WINS |
| 1. Brittany Brown- 0.67 (12-15) |
1. Brittany Brown- 57 (12-15) |
| 2. Stephanie Powers- 0.73 (08-11) |
2. Stephanie Powers- 42 (08-11) |
| 3. Melissa Weck- 0.75 (16-18) |
3. Melissa Weck- 37 (16-18) |
| 4. Emily Barrett- 0.84 (07-09) |
4. Kirsi Keenan- 10 (07-10) |
| 5. Kirsi Keenan- 0.90 (07-10) |
5. Emily Barrett- 5 (07-09) |
|
|
THE LIBERTY LADY FLAMES- The newest ASUN member, Liberty, started the season with a pair of nail-biting overtime losses and then played through a tough gauntlet of games including contests against LSU, Virginia, and Clemson to begin the year just 1-9-0. However, they seem to have found their footing last week, going on the road to North Alabama and Lipscomb to earn a pair of big wins to make their way back into the playoff picture.
The Liberty offense has struggled overall this season, scoring just 12 goals in their 12 games. Those 12 goals have been split between seven different players, with their leading scorer, Gabrielle Farrell, coming into the game with six points on two goals and two assists. Melody Jayroe has seen most of the action in net, posting a 2.32 goals against average and a .681 save percentage.
FGCU leads the all-time series between the two 2-0-0 with wins in both the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Last season the two teams played at the FGCU Soccer Complex with the Eagles squeaking out a 3-2 victory on a
Holly Fritz (Cape Coral, FL/Mariner HS/Florida State) goal in the 80th minute, her second of the contest.
PROMOTIONS- There will be lots going on in the stadium Thursday. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to support breast cancer awareness. There will be 2018-19 'FGCU Family' pink shirts on sale as well for just $10 with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. It is also Camper Night, with all youth in their 2018 camper shirts getting into the game for free. Those youth will also be invited for a chalk talk with the FGCU coaching staff after the game.
TICKETS- Single game tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for youth (age 3-15) and Military w/ID. Season tickets are $55 each (one ticket to all 11 home games) which saves 28% off of the adult single game rate. Fall Frequent Flyer Cards are $99 each and include 26 entries to regular season home women's soccer, men's soccer, and volleyball matches. Those 26 admissions can be used for multiple people in any combination and save 45% off the adult single game rate. All Sports Passes are $172 and include a Fall Frequent Flier Card as well as Frequent Flier Cards for Baseball and Softball and save over 70% off of the adult single game rate. Contact the FGCU ticket office at 239-590-7145 for more information.
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 11 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. A year later, the Eagles became the first ASUN women's soccer program to make four-straight NCAA Tournaments with another tournament title in 2017. Blankenship has guided FGCU to a 152-54-23 (72.0 W%) overall record through the first 12 seasons of the program's existence, including a 74-14-14 (81.0 W%) mark in the ASUN. Blankenship's impressive career record of 392-125-34 (74.5 W%) over 26 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.
