FORT MYERS, Fla. – With the regular season champion title on the line, the FGCU women's soccer team (10-4-1, 5-1-1 ASUN) will head to Stetson (2-11-2, 0-5-1 ASUN) for the final match of ASUN conference play on Sunday, Oct. 27. The match between the first-place Eagles and the Hatters is set for a 1 p.m. kickoff at the Athletic Training Center and will be streamed on Hatter Vision.
FGCU is currently in a tie with Lipscomb for the top spot in the conference standings. With a win this weekend, the Eagles would clinch at least a share of the regular season title, which would be the ninth in program history. In the event of a tie in the final rankings, the ASUN uses RPI to decide seeding for the postseason tournament. FGCU is currently ranked 66th, while the Bisons check in at 138.
FGCU, Lipscomb and Liberty are the only teams that have clinched spots in the 2019 ASUN Championship, which is set to begin with quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 1. The tournament format dictates that the higher seed will host each matchup.
The Green and Blue
FGCU went 1-1 in ASUN play last week, picking up a thrilling 1-0 double OT win over UNF (Oct. 17) before falling by the same score at Liberty (Oct. 20). The loss to the Flames marked the team's first in conference play and snapped its eight-match unbeaten streak.
Senior
Evdokia Popadinova sealed the win over the Ospreys after finding the back of the net in the 104th minute of the match. Classmate
Marjorie Boilesen and sophomore
Kara Kyramarios (Titusville, FL/Titusville HS) tallied assists on the shot.
With the play,
Popadinova (Hadzhidimovo, Bulgaria/Northwestern Ohio) moved into the top five in program history with 22 goals, while
Boilesen (Sao Paulo, Brazil/West Florida) also jumped into the top five with 22 career assists. Popadinova is also tied for second in program history with 11 career game-winning goals. Former Eagle Tabby Tindell (2013-16) holds the record with 31.
Senior
Melissa Weck is just three shutouts away from breaking the FGCU all-time record. Her 0.76 goals-against average this season sits at the top of the league and she has been scored on just 11 times, the lowest of any other keeper in the ASUN.
Weck (Yorba Linda, CA/Esperanza HS) also paces the conference with seven solo shutouts.
Freshman
Louise Lillback is tied with Popadinova for the team lead with 18 points. The five goals she has scored in ASUN play are the second-most in the conference.
Lillback (Stockholm, Sweden/Tibble Gymnasium) paces all league rookies in goals (seven), assists (four) and points.
The Eagles check in at seventh in the United Soccer Coaches South Region poll and lead the ASUN in conference goals (12), team goals-against average (0.78) and shutouts (eight).
Stetson at FGCU
Sunday's match will be the 14th in the history between FGCU and Stetson, which the Eagles currently lead 10-1-2. The Green and Blue dropped the first-ever meeting against the Hatters in 2007 and have not lost since. Last season, FGCU claimed a 3-0 victory over the Hatters at the FGCU Soccer Complex.
The Hatters are currently on a four-match losing streak and have yet to pick up a win in conference play. The team earned a 0-0 draw against Jacksonville (Oct. 3), marking the team's only point in the ASUN rankings.
Overall, Stetson is 1-3-2 on its home field at the Athletic Training Center. The Hatters have been outscored 14-7 on their pitch and the team has not found the back of the net since a 3-2 loss against Illinois State (Sept. 22).
Freshman Maggie Struble leads the team with 12 points, which she has tallied from six goals. Sophomore Kate Carter has added four, which includes one game-winner.
Freshman Lara Bates has started between the pipes in 13 of Stetson's 16 matches this season. The rookie has been scored on 33 times and has picked up one shutout. Her 69 saves are the fourth-most of all ASUN keepers and she currently owns a 0-10-2 record.
ASUN Standings
T-1. FGCU * (16 points, 10-4-1, 5-1-1 ASUN)
T-1. Lipscomb * (16 points, 11-5-1, 5-1-1 ASUN)
3. Liberty * (15 points, 9-6-2, 5-2-0 ASUN)
4. Kennesaw State (12 points, 9-7-0, 4-3-0 ASUN)
5. UNF (10 points, 9-5-2, 3-2-1 ASUN)
6. NJIT (7 points, 5-6-3, 2-3-1 ASUN)
7. North Alabama (6 points, 6-9-0, 2-4-0 ASUN)
T-8. Stetson (1 point, 2-11-2, 0-5-1 ASUN)
T-8. Jacksonville (1 point, 0-11-3, 0-5-1 ASUN)
* - Denotes a clinched spot in 2019 ASUN Championship
Career records of note:
Goals
1. 66 - Tabby TINDELL - 2013-16
2. 28 - Shannen WACKER - 2011-14
3. 24 - Amber McCALL - 2007-09
4. 23 - Lindsey HAW - 2007-10
5. 22 - Paulina SPECKMAIER - 2013-16
22 - Evdokia Popadinova- 2018-19
7. 21 - Marjorie Boilesen- 2017-19
8. 17 - Ally KASUN - 2012-15
9. 16 - Gina PETRACCO - 2008-11
10. 12 - Olivia ELIAS - 2008-11
12 - Ali ROGERS - 2012-16
Assists
1. 30 - Tabby TINDELL - 2013-16
2. 28 - Ashley CIESIELCZYK - 2008-12
3. 27 - Shannen WACKER - 2011-14
4. 22 - Lindsay HAW - 2007-10
22 - Paulina SPECKMAIER - 2013-16
22 - Marjorie Boilesen- 2017-19
7. 19 - Ally KASUN - 2012-15
8. 18 - Melissa ARNOLD - 2011-14
9. 15 - Holly FRITZ - 2017-18
15 - Caytlan MACKENZIE - 2007-10
15 - Meaghan MULLIGAN - 2015-17
15 - Camille KNUDSTRUP - 2015-18
Points
1. 162 - Tabby TINDELL (66g 30a) - 2013-16
2. 83 - Shannen WACKER (28g 27a) - 2011-14
3. 68 - Lindsay HAW (23g 22a) - 2007-10
4. 66 - Paulina SPECKMAIER (22g 22a) - 2013-16
5. 64 - Marjorie Boilesen (21g 22a) - 2017-19
6. 57 - AMBER McCALL (24g 9a) - 2007-09
7. 53 - Ally KASUN (17g 19a) - 2012-15
53 - Evdokia Popadinova (22g 9a)- 2018-19
9. 44 - Gina PETRACCO (16g 12a) - 2008-11
10. 40 - Ashley CIESIELCZYK (6g 28a) - 2008-12
Saves
1. 274 - Brittany BROWN (56 GA, 274 saves) - 2012-15
2. 261 - Stephanie POWERS (52 GA, 261 saves) - 2008-11
3. 249 - Melissa Weck (53 GA, 239 saves) - 2016-19
4. 55 - Kirsi KEENAN (16 GA, 55 saves) - 2007-10
Most shutouts
1. 37.1 - Brittany BROWN - 2012-15
2. 34.4 - Melissa Weck - 2016-19
3. 31 - Stephanie POWERS - 2008-11
4. 8 - Kirsi KEENAN - 2007-10
Goals against avg.
1. 0.67 - Brittany BROWN (56 GA, 7511 min) - 2012-15
2. 0.73 - Stephanie POWERS (52 GA, 6401 min) - 2008-11
3. 0.74 - Melissa Weck (53 GA, 6485 min) - 2016-19
4. 0.84 - EMILY BARRETT (5 GA, 538 min) - 2007-09
FALL SPORTS SINGLE-GAME, SEASON AND GROUP TICKETS ON SALE
Single game tickets for volleyball, men's soccer and women's soccer are on sale now. Prices are $7 for adults and $5 for military/veterans (with ID) and youth (age 15 and under).
Season tickets (entry to each home game) are $55 for volleyball and women's soccer and $40 for men's soccer. Group tickets are $7 for groups of 15 or more and will include reserved seats, group recognition, a group activity and choice of FGCU gear or food. Fall Frequent Flyer passes, which includes a total of 30 entries to all three sports, are just $99.
For all inquiries, you can visit FGCUtickets.com, call 239-590-7145 or stop by the ticket office, which is open daily Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and one hour prior to all home events.
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 12 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 as they 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 166-59-24 (.714) overall record through the first 12 seasons of the program's existence, including an 81-15-15 (.800) mark in the ASUN. Blankenship's impressive career record of 406-129-35 (.743) 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.
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 78 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 11+ seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just seven+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 36 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including both men's soccer, women's soccer, and women's basketball again in 2018-19. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in spring 2018 and have outpaced their institution's undergraduate student body GPA each of the past 20 semesters. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours - being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl in 2017.
-- FGCUATHLETICS.COM –
