FORT MYERS, FL- Two first half goals from Holly Fritz (Cape Coral, FL/Mariner HS/Florida State) and another by Evdokia Popadinova (Hadzhidimovo, Bulgaria/Nikola Vaptsarov/Northwestern Ohio) were enough for FGCU as they grinded out a 3-2 win over Michigan Sunday afternoon to give the Eagles their first 4-0 start since 2007.   

"We talked about the opportunity this was for our team before the game" Jim Blankenship said.  "Our kids worked their tails off this week and were rewarded for it.  We hope as long as they continue to go out and put up results, we will get the respect that they deserve."

Most of the play was in the midfield to begin the game as the two sides felt each other out.  The first ball on goal wasn't even intended to be as a Michigan corner turned into a goal without any Wolverines around as FGCU recorded an own goal to put the Maize and Blue up 1-0 in the ninth minute. 

It didn't take long for the Eagles to answer though as they drew a foul deep in Wolverine territory and a set piece off of a free kick turned into a Marjorie Boilesen (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Porto Seguro/West Florida) to Fritz hookup to net the Green and Blue the tying goal in the 17^th minute.

 Melissa Weck (Yorba Linda, CA/Esperanza HS) made a pair of saves in the 28^th and then 31^st minute to keep it a 1-1 game.  That allowed FGCU to take their first lead of the afternoon in the 35^th minute when Popadinova took a free kick from just outside the box and curled it into the top 90 to make it 2-1 Eagles. 

The lead didn't last long though as Michigan penetrated deep into the FGCU end before getting a cross through the box on the ground and an easy tap in goal to even the score at two with just over six minutes left in the half. 

Just when it looked like the game was headed to the half knotted at two, FGCU drew a foul in the box in the 42^nd minute, leading to a penalty kick in which Fritz tucked one into the bottom right corner of the net to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead after 45 minutes of play. 

The play was up and down in an exciting first half as FGCU finished with six shots to five for Michigan.  The Wolverines put all five of their shots on net while the Eagles three shots on goal all resulted in scores. 

Michigan had a chance early in the second half to tie the score once again, but Weck made a big save off of a header to keep it a 3-2 game. 

Play got physical from there as the Wolverines were shown a pair of yellow cards over the next 10 minutes while FGCU struggled to mount any real chances against the front. 

FGCU had a chance to put the game away as Popidanova lined up the Eagles second penalty kick of the game in the 62^nd minute, but a save by the Wolverines followed up by another big save off of the rebound kept the score 3-2.

The Maize and Blue looked like they tied the game in the 66^th minutes with a goal off of a rebound, but were called for goalkeeper interference on the play as the FGCU faithful let out a collective sign. 

With everyone playing behind the ball for the Eagles in the final 20 minutes, Michigan struggled to find space and thus any real scoring chances as FGCU put all their chips in on the defensive end and hung on for a 3-2 win at the final horn. 

Fritz collected the Eagles first multi-goal game of the year with her two tallies to give her four on the year while Popadinova scored for the fourth straight game to tie Fritz and two others atop the early season ASUN goals list with four.  Boilesen notched her second assist of the season to continue to hold her title as the NCAA's active assists per game leader at 0.55 per game.  Weck stopped six shots in the win, allowing just one Wolverine shot to get by her to go along with the own goal.

FGCU finished with a 12-11 advantage in shots on the afternoon while Michigan was able to put eight of their shots on net to the Eagles six.  Each team earned only one corner, while Michigan was whistled for 13 fouls to the Eagles 12. 

 The 4-0 start for the Eagles is the first since the program's inception in 2007.  Michigan falls to 3-3 with the defeat. 

UP NEXT
The Eagles will continue a rigid early season slate on Friday when they hit the road to take on their third Power 5 school in five games when they visit Columbus to take on Ohio State who is coming off of a big win themselves over Notre Dame. Sunday they will remain in the Buckeye state to take on the Dayton Flyers. 

POWER 5 SUCCESS
The Eagles win over the Wolverines gives them eight Power 5 victories since 2014.  They are now 8-8-1 during that time against Power 5 foes.  Of their eight losses, seven have come by a single goal. 

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 147-51-21 (71.9 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 387-122-32 (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.