FORT MYERS, Fla. – FGCU freshman goalkeeper Emily McCue has been named to the team that will participate in Canada Soccer's U20 WNT Camp in Burnaby, British Columbia from Aug. 11-16. The six-day camp will continue Canada's preparations for the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2020.

The camp, which features players from schools and clubs both in Canada and the United States, is held prior to the start of the 2019-20 NCAA season. Every player in the camp, including many who have been in the system since as early as 2014, has experienced coming through the Women's National Excel Program, as well as the Regional Excel Program Centres across Canada. Of the 20 players in this year's camp, 16 have participated at either a FIFA or Concacaf youth tournament over the past five years.

"We're really excited that Emily has the opportunity to represent both her country and the FGCU women's soccer program," head coach Jim Blankenship said. "It's a great experience for her and will definitely add to her overall player development."

For McCue (Victoria, BC, Canada / Burnaby Central Secondary School), the trip has almost a homecoming feel to it. The GK was a resident-athlete with the Vancouver Whitecaps REX Program, which also serves as a direct feeder to the youth national teams. She spent her time with the Whitecaps training in the same facility that she will now attend camp in for the U20 National team.

With this camp marking the start of the 2019-20 cycle to the next FIFA U20 Women's World Cup, the team will look towards some of its younger players to find success. Nine of the members in this camp have just graduated into this age group after taking fourth at last year's FIFA U17 Women's World Cup in Uruguay. Only players born 2000 or later are eligible for next year's FIFA U20 Women's World Cup.

Though she will miss both of FGCU's exhibition games, the Eagles will have McCue back for their home opener against FIU on Thursday, Aug. 22. The team will face off against the Panthers in a 7 p.m. match at the FGCU Soccer Complex that will officially kick off their season, which will feature the hunt for the team's ninth ASUN title in the past 10 seasons and a seventh trip to the NCAA Tournament.

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 156-55-23 (.716) overall record through the first 12 seasons of the program's existence, including a 76-14-14 (.798) mark in the ASUN. Blankenship's impressive career record of 396-126-34 (.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 –