FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU women's soccer team (1-1-0) returns to the Nest to host La Salle (1-2-1) for a 7 p.m. match on Thursday, Sept. 5 at the FGCU Soccer Complex. The game will be streamed on YouTube Live.
The matchup between the Eagles and the Explorers will be the second in the history between the programs. In 2014, FGCU downed La Salle by a score of 3-2 in Philadelphia.
La Salle opened up the 2019 season with a 2-0 loss to #8 Duke on the road. Following that game, the Explorers played a pair of ASUN opponents in UNF and NJIT. La Salle tied the Ospreys 1-1 and defeated the Highlanders 1-0. So far, La Salle has put up two goals through four games, while the Eagles have managed to net as many in just two games.
Over the past two seasons, FGCU has been dominant at the FGCU Soccer Complex and has only lost two games at the Nest, good for a .86 win percentage. The Eagles dropped just one each in 2018 and 2017.
Despite playing just two games so far, multiple Eagles are still ranked among ASUN players. Senior
Marjorie Boilesen (Sao Paulo, Brazil/West Florida) is in a tie for sixth in the league with two goals and is one of six players that has found the back of the net twice in one game. Junior
Zoey Spitzer (Naples, FL/Gulf Coast HS), sophomore
Alyssa Abbondandolo (Cape Coral, FL/Oasis HS) and freshman
Louise Lillback each check in at fifth in the conference with one assist. Senior
Melissa Weck has allowed just two goals this season, which is the second-least in the league.
Thursday is Dirty Bird Appreciation Night at the FGCU Soccer Complex. There will be giveaways in the student section for those who attend.
Last Time Out
• FGCU was handed a 2-0 loss on the road at Michigan last Friday night.
• Redshirt-junior
Megan Young (White Lake, MI/Walled Lake Northern HS) had the best chance to score with a shot in the second half that barreled towards the bottom of the net, but the Wolverines' keeper made the save.
•
Lillback (Stockholm, Sweden/Tibble Gymnasium), senior
Evdokia Popadinova (Hadzhidimovo, Bulgaria/Northwestern Ohio), sophomore
Kara Kyramarios (Titusville, FL/Titusville HS) and senior
Silvana Gordon (Medford, NJ/Shawnee HS) each tallied an additional shot for the Green and Blue.
•
Weck (Yorba Linda, CA/Esperanza HS) allowed her first two goals of the season, both of which came in the first half. She came up with four saves and held Michigan to its lowest number of goals scored in a win so far.
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
6. 18 - Marjorie Boilesen- 2017-19
7. 17 - Ally KASUN - 2012-15
8. 16 - Gina PETRACCO - 2008-11
9. 14 - Evdokia Popadinova- 2018-19
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
6. 19 - Ally KASUN - 2012-15
7. 18 - Melissa ARNOLD - 2011-14
18 - Marjorie Boilesen- 2017-19
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. 57 - AMBER McCALL (24g 9a) - 2007-09
6. 54 - Marjorie Boilesen (18g 18a) - 2017-19
7. 53 - Ally KASUN (17g 19a) - 2012-15
8. 44 - Gina PETRACCO (16g 12a) - 2008-11
9. 40 - Ashley CIESIELCZYK (6g 28a) - 2008-12
10. 37 - Holly FRITZ (11g 15a) - 2017-18
Saves
1. 274 - Brittany BROWN (56 GA, 274 saves) - 2012-15
2. 261 - Stephanie POWERS (52 GA, 261 saves) - 2008-11
3. 206 - Melissa Weck (44 GA, 206 saves) - 2016-19
4. 55 - Kirsi KEENAN (16 GA, 55 saves) - 2007-10
Most shutouts
1. 37.1 - Brittany BROWN - 2012-15
2. 31 - Stephanie POWERS - 2008-11
3. 28.4 - Melissa Weck - 2016-19
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 (44 GA, 5354 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 157-56-23 (.710) 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 397-127-34 (.741) 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 –
