FORT MYERS, FLA.- FGCU head coach Jim Blankenship has announced the signing of six players for the 2019-20 season.  Inking to become Eagles next season are: Alison Wessel, Amanda Crisalli, Emily McCue, Lilly Lakich, Kailyn Sheehan, and Lander Peck.
 
"I'm excited for this class" Blankenship said. "As we ask of all of our players, this group will represent us well on and off the field.  They are all outstanding academically which is really important for us.  We are looking forward to them getting here and starting to compete." 
 
ALISON WESSEL | D | 5'7 | ST. CHARLES, ILLINOIS | ST. CHARLES NORTH HS
- Four time Illinois State Cup Champion (2014-17).
- Selected for the 'Best 11' of the 2000 girls at the USYS Nationals.
- Led St. Charles North to the Varsity Super Sectionals in 2016 & 2017.
- Chose FGCU for the coaching staff, academics, and success in the women's soccer program.    

Coach Blankenship on Wessel- "I'm excited for Alison to join us.  She has had a highly decorated club career including being recognized as one of the top 11 players at the USYS nationals. She is also a great student, excelling academically, which is very important to us."
 
AMANDA CRISALLI | D | 5'8 | ALACHUA, FLORIDA | SANTA FE HS
 - Nationally ranked by TopDrawerSoccer from 2015-17.
 - Led Orlando City to the ECNL Playoffs in 2015 & 2016. 
 - Named All-Area as a freshman in 2015 at Santa Fe HS. 
 - Ranked in the top 3% academically in her graduating class. 
 - Chose FGCU for the coaching staff, the competitive schedule, and the facilities. 

Coach Blankenship on Crisalli- "Amanda is one of the top players in the state of Florida. She has the opportunity to come in and compete right away.  As well as her skill on the field, she is academically very strong as well." 
 
EMILY MCCUE | GK | 6'1 | VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA | MOUNT DOUGLAS SECONDARY SCHOOL
 - Won four U17 National Championships with the Whitecaps Girls Elite.
- Named Burnaby Central's Female Athlete of the Year during her freshman and sophomore years.
- Four time Honor Roll recipient in the classroom at Burnaby Central. 
- Chose FGCU for the welcoming atmosphere with the players and coaches as well as the campus.

Coach Blankenship on McCue- "Emily will immediately come in and compete for time.  She is another in a long line of good keepers that we have had here at FGCU.  She has played at a very high level, competing with national team."
 
LILLY LAKICH | D | 5'10 | TAMPA, FLORIDA | NEWSOME HS
- Led Newsome High School to three district championships and a pair of trips to the state tournament. 
- First Team All-Conference selection as a senior. 
- Helped Tampa Bay United to the ECNL Nationals. 
- Four time honor roll recipient in the classroom. 
- Chose FGCU for the success of the program, the coaches, and the campus.

Coach Blankenship on Lakich- "Lilly is a very athletically gifted player.  She has a chance to come in and compete right away on the backline. Having International experience to bring with her will be big for us." 
 
KAILYN SHEEHAN | MF | 5'11 | CARY, ILLINOIS | CARY-GROVE COMMUNITY HS
- First Team All-Conference selection at Cary-Grove High School.
- Second Team All-State pick as a senior.
- Four year member of the National Honor Society.
- Chose FGCU because of the success of the program as well as the diverse educational opportunities. 

Coach Blankenship on Sheehan- "Kailyn is a tremendous person and player. She is a very smart player on and off the field with a great work rate. With her size and strength she will have an impact the midfield immediately."
 
LANDER PECK | MF | 5'6 | SANIBEL, FLORIDA | BISHOP VEROT HS
 - Three time All-State selection.
 - 2017 FACA Player of the Year
 - Holds single season & all-time assist records at BVHS
- Had over 80 points as a junior, netting 25 goals and dishing out 30 assists. 
- Chose FGCU because of the program and the facility, as well as the size of the school.    

Coach Blankenship on Peck- "Lander is a kid that can play multiple positions.  She is very skillful and athletic, but what we love the most about her is her competitiveness and her work ethic.  She is going to come in and have a chance to push for time right away."
 
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 156-55-23 (71.6 W%) overall record through the first 12 seasons of the program's existence, including a 76-14-14 (79.8 W%) mark in the ASUN. Blankenship's impressive career record of 396-126-34 (74.3 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.