TUSCALOOSA, ALA.- In a program that holds the longest active conference championship streak in the country, there aren't a lot of opportunities for firsts to occur these days. That tells you exactly how special FGCU's 4-2 win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa Friday night was, as it marked the first road win over an SEC team in program history. 

 "I am very proud of how our young ladies played tonight" Jim Blankenship said. "That was a great soccer environment against an NCAA Tournament level team and we came out and played very well."

The Green and Blue came out ready to go against the Crimson Tide.  FGCU had a pair of chances in the first 15 minutes of action, but saves by the Alabama keeper kept them off the board for the time being. Another point blank look was turned aside in the 20^th minute, but the Eagles broke through in the 26^th as Cassidy Morgan (Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay HS) collected a rebound off of her own shot and scooted it past the keeper to give FGCU the lead.
 
Before the dust settled from the Eagles first tally, Holly Fritz (Cape Coral, Fla./Mariner HS/Florida State) struck for the green and blue, sneaking past the defense before firing a rocket off of her right foot to put FGCU ahead 2-0 in the 30^th minute. 

At the half, FGCU held a 10-7 advantage in shots while placing eight of those on net. Of the Tide's seven shots in the period, none made their way onto the Eagle goal. 

It didn't take long once the second half got underway for the Eagles to continue their barrage, as just 20 seconds in, Evdokia Popadinova (Hadzhidimovo, Bulgaria/Nikola Vapstarov/Northwestern Ohio) picked off an errant Tide pass and sprinted ahead before finding Marjorie Boilesen (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Porto Seguro/West Florida) to put the ball in the back of the net to make it 3-0 FGCU. 

FGCU didn't let up there though as they put two more shots on net in the first five minutes of the half and led that category 10-0 before Melissa Weck (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) made her first save of the year in the 52^nd minute. 

It was quiet until the 76^th minute when Boilesen played a pretty ball through to Popadinova who sliced through the Alabama defense before tucking one into the lower 90 to make it a 4-0 game. 

Alabama finally broke through in the 82^nd minute to cut the Eagle lead to 4-1 and then things got interesting on an FGCU own goal in the 85^th minute, but it was too little too late for the Tide as the Eagles painted Tuscaloosa green and blue with a 4-2 victory.

FGCU put 13 of their 15 shots on goal in the win while Alabama managed to get only seven of their 18 on target.  Weck finished the night with five saves to earn her 30^th career win. 

The Eagles improve to 2-0-0 on the year while the Tide falls to 0-2-1. 

HISTORY
The win for FGCU was its first over an SEC team on the road in program history.  The Eagles last win over an SEC opponent came nearly three years ago when they defeated Mississippi State 2-0 in Tampa. 

UP NEXT
A confident Eagles bunch will return home to the FGCU Soccer Complex next weekend for a pair of contests. The Green and Blue will battle Niagara at home Friday night at 7 before returning to the pitch Sunday to host the Michigan Wolverines in a 1 PM kick.   

NO BIG GAME JITTERS
The victory over the Tide marks the third straight season for FGCU to claim a road victory over a Power 5, after defeating Arizona in 2017 and Miami in 2016.  It's the sixth straight season overall for the Eagles to earn a Power 5 win.  Since 2014 the Eagles are 7-8-1 against Power 5's during the regular season with those eight losses coming by a total of just nine goals. 

CHART CLIMBERS
With her three point night, Boilesen moves into a tie for 9^th place with Olivia Elias (2008-11) with 36 career points. Scoring for the second time this season and for the 13^th time in her Eagle career, Boilesen takes over 8^th place all to herself in the goals category.  Also with her second game-winning goal in two outs this season, Boilesen climbs into a 5^th place tie on the game-winners list where she again joins Elias and Ally Kasun (2012-15). 

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.

PROMOTIONS
Next weekend will bring a host of promotions to the FGCU Soccer Complex including a Greenout and Shirts for Shots Friday night as well as a Whiteout, Inflatable Games, Futbol Sunday, and more for the Michigan game on Sunday.  For a complete listing of promotions for the 2018 season CLICK HERE.

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 145-51-21 (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 385-122-32 (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.