ATLANTA – For the first time in her FGCU career, women's soccer freshman
Louise Lillback received ASUN Player of the Week honors, as announced by the conference Monday afternoon. She is the first Eagle freshman to earn the weekly honor since Paulina Speckmaier did so in 2013.
"We're really excited for Loui and the great start that she's had in conference play," said head coach
Jim Blankenship. "She was a difference-maker in our matches this weekend and we can't wait to see what else she does as we progress."
Lillback (Stockholm, Sweden/Tibble Gymnasium) appeared in both of
FGCU's (6-3-1) matches this weekend, as the team defeated North Alabama (Sept. 26) and tied Lipscomb (Sept. 29) in the first contests of league play. She had a hand in all three of the team's goals as the Eagles downed the Lions 3-1.
Her first shot came in the 52nd minute, breaking open what was a 0-0 match. Sophomore
Ashlee Brentlinger (Middletown, DE/Padua Academy) and redshirt-junior
Megan Young (White Lake, MI/Walled Lake Northern HS) assisted on the goal.
Less than two minutes after her goal,
Lillback assisted on senior
Evdokia Popadinova's shot that put the Eagles up 2-0.
Following a response from the Lions that made it a 2-1 match,
Lillback found the back of the net with her second goal of the night, converting a ball from sophomore
Kara Kyramarios (Titusville, FL/Titusville HS). The shot marked the rookie's fourth goal of the season.
Lillback is the second Eagle that has recorded a multi-goal game during the 2019 season. Senior
Marjorie Boilesen (Sao Paulo, Brazil/West Florida) netted two in the matches against FIU (Aug. 22) and Ball State (Sept. 15), while
Popadinova (Hadzhidimovo, Bulgaria/Northwestern Ohio) did so against Marshall.
She is both the second FGCU Player and the second freshman to be tabbed ASUN Player of the Week this season.
Popadinova collected the honor Sept. 23 and Stetson's rookie Maggie Struble was selected Sept. 9.
Following its two-match road swing, FGCU is set to return to the Nest to host Jacksonville in a 1 p.m. match on Sunday, Oct. 6 at the FGCU Soccer Complex.
2019 ASUN Season Award Winners
Sept. 30 |
Player: Louise Lillback, FGCU // Defensive Player: Jessica Aseng, NJIT
Sept. 23 |
Player: Evdokia Popadinova, FGCU //
FGCU Defensive Player: Melissa Weck, FGCU
Sept. 16 | Player: Gabrielle Farrell, Liberty // Defensive: Melody Jayroe, Liberty
Sept. 9 | Player: Maggie Struble, Stetson // Defensive Player: Katia Hanger, Lipscomb
Sept. 3 | Player: Thais Reiss, UNF // Defensive Player: Sophia Thompson, UNF
Aug. 26 | Player: Thais Reiss, UNF // Defensive Player: Molly Saylor, NJIT
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 161-58-24 (.712) overall record through the first 12 seasons of the program's existence, including a 77-14-15 (.800) mark in the ASUN. Blankenship's impressive career record of 402-128-35 (.742) over 29 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.
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