DELAND, Fla. – The FGCU women's soccer team (11-4-1, 6-1-1 ASUN) claimed the ninth regular season title in program history with a hard-fought, 3-2 win over Stetson (2-13-2, 0-7-1 ASUN) Sunday afternoon at the Athletic Training Center.

"It's awesome to be back on top and win the league," head coach Jim Blankenship said. "It was our goal from the beginning of the season to try and get back to this position so I'm pleased that we were able to do that. Obviously, today was a tough result to get because we got down a goal early and had to fight back. Stetson played hard today and it was a good test for our program and our players showed a lot of grit and strong character. Overall, three points on the road is always good and I'm happy with the work our team put in to secure this victory."

The Hatters struck first, as Lily Truong tallied her first goal of the season with a diving header that put the home team up 1-0 in the 15th minute of the match. Redshirt-junior Megan Young (White Lake, MI/Walled Lake Northern HS) responded with an on-frame test, marking her third shot of the day, but was denied by the Stetson keeper.

After a slow start for FGCU's offense, senior Evdokia Popadinova put the team on the board with a shot in the 26th minute that tied things up at 1-1. Classmate Marjorie Boilesen was credited with the assist on the play.

Less than two minutes later, Popadinova (Hadzhidimovo, Bulgaria/Northwestern Ohio) handed the Eagles the lead with her second goal of the match after converting a corner kick from sophomore Kara Kyramarios (Titusville, FL/Titusville HS). The senior knocked in a header in the 28th minute to put the Green and Blue up 2-1. The goal was Popadinova's 10th of the season, marking the second-consecutive year that she has achieved a double-digit total.

Sophomore Ashlee Brentlinger (Middletown, DE/Padua Academy) had an opportunity to extend FGCU's lead just before the half, but her header was stopped by Stetson's RaeAnna Casler. The team took its 2-1 advantage into the break, as well as an 8-3 edge in shots.

With 25 minutes left in the match, Stetson rookie Maggie Struble tallied the equalizer to cap off an unassisted drive into the box. The goal was her seventh of the season and tied things up at 2-2.

After a few unsuccessful scoring attempts by the Eagles, sophomore Alyssa Abbondandolo netted her first goal of the season in the 76th minute to break the tie. With less than 15 minutes on the clock, Abbondandolo's (Cape Coral, FL/Oasis HS) game-winner, which was assisted by Boilesen (Sao Paulo, Brazil/West Florida), put the Green and Blue up 3-2 and the team held on for the win.

Whether the Eagles stand alone as regular season champions, which would mark the ninth time in 10 seasons the team has achieved such a feat, will depend on the result of Sunday's 8 p.m. match between Lipscomb (11-5-1, 5-1-1 ASUN) and host North Alabama (6-10-0, 2-5-0 ASUN).

Though the official bracket will be released after tonight's match, FGCU is expected to be the No. 1 seed due to current tiebreaker rules, which include head-to-head results and RPI rankings (FGCU 66, Lipscomb 138).

Up Next
Assuming FGCU earns the top seed, the Green and Blue will take on the winner of the quarterfinal match between No. 4 Kennesaw State and No. 5 UNF (Friday, Nov. 1) in the conference semifinal at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3. The championship game will be played on Saturday, Nov. 9 and will be hosted by the highest remaining seed.

ASUN Standings (before 8 p.m. match between Lipscomb/North Alabama)
1. FGCU * (19 points, 11-4-1, 6-1-1 ASUN)
2. Liberty * (18 points, 10-6-2, 6-2-0 ASUN)
3. Lipscomb * (16 points, 11-5-1, 5-1-1 ASUN)
4. Kennesaw State * (15 points, 10-7-0, 5-3-0 ASUN)
5. UNF * (13 points, 10-5-2, 4-2-1 ASUN)
6. NJIT * (10 points, 6-7-3, 3-4-1 ASUN)
7. North Alabama (6 points, 6-10-0, 2-5-0 ASUN)
T-8. Stetson (1 point, 2-13-2, 0-7-1 ASUN)
T-8. Jacksonville (1 point, 0-12-3, 0-6-1 ASUN)
* - Denotes clinched spot in 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
    24 - Evdokia Popadinova- 2018-19 
4. 23 - Lindsey HAW - 2007-10
5. 22 - Paulina SPECKMAIER - 2013-16
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. 24 - Marjorie Boilesen- 2017-19 
5. 22 - Lindsay HAW - 2007-10
    22 - Paulina SPECKMAIER - 2013-16
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
66 - Marjorie Boilesen (21g 24a) - 2017-19 
6. 57 - AMBER McCALL (24g 9a) - 2007-09
    57 - Evdokia Popadinova (24g 9a)- 2018-19 
8. 53 - Ally KASUN (17g 19a) - 2012-15
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 (55 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. 0.75 - Melissa Weck (55 GA, 6575 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 167-59-24 (.716) overall record through the first 12 seasons of the program's existence, including an 82-15-15 (.801) mark in the ASUN. Blankenship's impressive career record of 407-129-35 (.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 –