FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU women's soccer team (11-4-2, 6-1-1 ASUN) saw its season come to a heartbreaking end as the team fell to Kennesaw State (11-7-1, 5-3-0 ASUN) in penalty kicks during the 2019 ASUN Semifinal at the FGCU Soccer Complex. After two bouts of overtime, the teams were sent into the penalty shootout, where the Owls out-shot the Eagles 2-1.
"Obviously, it's a tough day considering the way everything went down," head coach Jim Blankenship said. "You have to give credit to Kennesaw, they came out in the second half and changed their momentum. I thought our guys did a great job settling everything down and we had opportunities to win it, but their goalkeeper really made the difference. She made some unbelievable stops in PKs and their team really worked their tail off to stay in it. I have a ton of respect for (head coach) Benji and his staff, they've done a great job with their program."
The first half of the match was controlled by the Green and Blue, as the team netted a pair of goals to take a 2-0 lead over Kennesaw State. The team's first goal was tallied when sophomore Kara Kyramarios (Titusville, FL/Titusville HS) converted a penalty kick in the 10th minute, marking her first goal of the season.
Senior Evdokia Popadinova scored the second goal of the match when she found the back of the net for the 11th time this season with just under a minute and a half to go until halftime. Popadinova (Hadzhidimovo, Bulgaria/Northwestern Ohio) chipped in a ball from classmate Marjorie Boilesen (Sao Paulo, Brazil/West Florida) to put FGCU up 2-0 heading into the break.
It was the Owls who owned the second half of the semifinal, as the team battled back against the top-seeded Eagles and put pressure on the home team. Kennesaw's Becky Contreras gave the team a momentum boost with a goal in the 53rd minute after sending in a pass from teammate Emely Sosa. Five minutes later, Carly Pressgrove notched the equalizer after sending in a ricochet off the post to knot things up at 2-2.
With 10 seconds left in regulation, it looked like freshman Louise Lillback (Stockholm, Sweden/Tibble Gymnasium) was going to hand the Eagles the win after breaking away from the defense, but her shot went high, sending the teams into the first overtime period.
In the first 10-minute overtime period, each team tallied a pair of shots. Senior keeper Melissa Weck was only forced to make one stop, while her Kennesaw counterpart Tiffany Sornpao had to face both of the Eagles' attempts on-frame. Neither offense was able to get past the opposing team's keeper, sending the match into second overtime.
Everyone on the field appeared to be worn down in the second overtime block, evidence of the physicality that both teams played with during the match. Neither FGCU nor Kennesaw State took a shot in the final period that forced the game into a penalty kick shootout.
The teams gathered around the north goal of the FGCU Soccer Complex prior to the start of penalty kicks. Weck (Yorba Linda, CA/Esperanza HS) and Sornpao each saved the first shots they were faced with, adding to the intensity of the match. The Owls were the first to strike in PKs, as Isabella Contreras snuck her attempt in past a diving Weck. Sophomore Alyssa Abbondandolo (Cape Coral, FL/Oasis HS) nailed her attempt to knot up the count at 1-1, but Kennesaw's Becky Contreras netted penalty kick number two for the team, ultimately handing the Owls the win.
Despite today's draw marking the end of the road for the FGCU women's soccer team, the Eagles still have plenty of positive takeaways from this season. The group captured the 2019 ASUN Regular Season Championship, the eighth in program history, and Blankenship was named ASUN Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his career. Popadinova, Boilesen and Weck all wrapped up their Eagle careers with their names all over the FGCU record book and the class of 2020 helped the Eagles to a pair of ASUN Tournament titles and as many berths in the NCAA Tournament.
"I feel for our kids, but nothing changes what they've done for us," Blankenship said. "They've done so much for our program and me. Our seniors have left an unbelievable mark in a lot of peoples' lives, this school and this community."
Career records of note:
Goals
1. 66 - Tabby TINDELL - 2013-16
2. 28 - Shannen WACKER - 2011-14
3. 25 - Evdokia Popadinova- 2018-19
4. 24 - Amber McCALL - 2007-09
5. 23 - Lindsey HAW - 2007-10
6. 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. 25 - 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. 67 - Marjorie Boilesen (21g 25a) - 2017-19
5. 66 - Paulina SPECKMAIER (22g 22a) - 2013-16
6. 59 - Evdokia Popadinova (25g 9a)- 2018-19
7. 57 - AMBER McCALL (24g 9a) - 2007-09
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. 259 - 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. 0.77 - Melissa Weck (57 GA, 6685 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, 2015 and 2019, 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 167-59-25 (.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 407-130-36 (.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 –
