MIAMI, FL- The #16 FGCU Eagles (6-0-1) got goals from five different players and controlled the tempo Thursday night, downing FIU (0-8-0) 5-1 to remain unbeaten on the 2018 campaign. 

"We came out with a good professional approach tonight and took care of business" Head Coach Jim Blankenship said.  "We got off to a good start with the two early goals and set the tone right away."

The Eagles came out ready to go after a short lightning delay pushed the opening kick back to 7:15.  Less than a minute in, Evdokia Popadinova (Hadzhidimovo, Bulgaria/Nikola Vaptsarov/Northwestern Ohio) headed a shot off the post, narrowly missing the Eagles quickest goal of 2018.

It didn't take long for them to get on the board though as Kara Kyramarios (Titusville, FL/Titusville HS) collected a loose ball at the top of the box in the fourth minute and beat the keeper for her first collegiate goal to put FGCU up 1-0. 

Moments later the Eagles struck again as Cassidy Morgan (Weston, FL/Cypress Bay HS) and Marjorie Boilesen (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Porto Seguro/West Florida) put together a run before finding the right foot of Popadinova who put it away for her sixth goal of the season to make it a 2-0 game. 

FGCU wasn't done there though as just one tick into the 16th minute, Holly Fritz (Cape Coral, FL/Mariner HS/Florida State) played a perfect ball into the box on a free kick and connected with the head of Boilesen for her third of the season to stretch the Eagle lead to 3-0. 

Popadinova barely missed making it a 4-0 game in the 27th minute as she fired a bullet on net that rattled off the crossbar before bounding away harmlessly.

More unselfish play for the Green and Blue resulted in their fourth goal of the night in the 33rd minute as Popadinova and Shay Jackson (Parkville, MO/Park Hill South HS) worked the ball in before finding Morgan open on the far post for an easy tap in to push the lead to 4-0 before the half. 

FGCU dominated the first 45 minutes, outshooting FIU 12-6 while taking six corners to the Panthers one.  Not only did the Eagles have four different goal scorers in the half, but six different players recorded at least a point in the period. 

Reigning NCAA National Player of the Week Melissa Weck (Yorba Linda, CA/Esperanza HS) wasn't overly busy in the Eagle net in the first half, but was called upon early in the second to make a big save and keep the Panthers off the board for the time being. 

FGCU continue to fire shots at the FIU goal, but couldn't add to their lead as the clock ticked past the midway point of the second half. 

FIU finally broke through in the 81st minute with a goal, snapping a 325+ minute shutout streak for the Eagles, cutting their lead to 4-1. 

The Panther goal breathed a little life back into the Eagle attack as well though as less than four minutes later, FGCU added to their lead as reserves Emilie Olsen (Frekhaug, Norway/Tertnes VGS) found Alyssa Abbondandolo (Cape Coral, FL/Oasis HS) for her first career goal to put the game to bed with the Green and Blue in front 5-1. 

The Eagles put up double digit shots for the second straight half to finish the game with 23 to 13 for the Panthers.  FGCU took six corners each in the first and second periods to win that category as well 12-2.

FGCU's five goals were a season high, coming from five different players on the night. Three Eagles (Popadinova, Morgan, & Boilesen) notched a goal and an assist in the win. 

The Green and Blue improve to 6-0-1 on the year while FIU continues a rough start at 0-8-0. 

FGCU will take two days off before taking the pitch again Sunday against Loyola in a 1 PM local start in Chicago. 

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 149-51-22 (72.0 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 389-122-33 (74.5 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.