FORT MYERS, Fla. – A late goal by graduate Margaret Berry (Holly, Mich.) propelled the #2 FGCU women's soccer to a 1-0 victory over #7 North Florida in the ASUN quarterfinals, Thursday night at Pickering Field. With the win, the Eagles advance to the semifinals on Sunday at 1 p.m. to take on #6 Central Arkansas.

"Hats off to UNF, I thought it was a phenomenal game," said head coach Jim Blankenship. "I'm incredibly proud of our ladies, it was truly a great battle. Both teams went after it and we got a wonderful goal in a scramble and now we get to move on which is what it's all about."

Berry's goal came off a corner kick in the 74^th minute after the ball bounced around in front of the net. Initially falling down, Berry got back up and was able to slot the ball past the goalkeeper. It was her second goal of the season, both of which have been game-winners.

Berry was also part of a great back line as she, Leah Scarpelli (Brick, N.J.), Lilly Lakich (Lithia, Fla.), and Libby Helverson (West Des Moines, Iowa) all played the entire 90 minutes and allowed just eight shots, only three of which reached goalkeeper Katie Sullivan (Wheaton, Ill.).

The Eagles were on the attack most of the night, taking 17 shots and earning 10 corner kicks, the second-highest output they have had this season.

The Green and Blue had a few good chances in the first half with two of their best opportunities coming late. In the 37^thminute, Erika Zschuppe's( Kirtland, Ohio) shot was saved by Sofia Miliancano before Marla Gaudlitz (Werder, Germany) had her shot in the 45th minute from inside the box also knocked away by Miliancano.

With the game still scoreless in the 66^th minute, Grace Paradis (Kingston, N.H.) nearly gave the Eagles the lead as she corralled the ball at the top of the box and had an open look at the goal, but her shot toward the top-right corner went just high.

After Berry gave the Eagles the lead, FGCU's defense stayed strong in the final 16 minutes, allowing just one shot off target.

On Sunday, the Eagles will look to advance to their first ASUN championship game since 2017. FGCU and Central Arkansas played in the final regular-season game just five days ago with the Eagles winning, 2-0, at Pickering Field.

For complete coverage of FGCU women's soccer, follow the Eagles on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FGCU_WSoccer and online at www.FGCUAthletics.com. You can also sign up to have news on FGCU women's soccer or other programs delivered directly to your inbox by visiting www.fgcuathletics.com/email.

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 16 seasons. Blankenship started the program in 2007 and has since guided the Eagles to double-digit win seasons every year except the COVID-shortened 2020 season, culminating with ASUN Regular Season Championships in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019. 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 195-74-28 (.704) overall record through the first 16 seasons of the program's existence, including an 102-20-16 (.797) mark in the ASUN. Blankenship's impressive career record of 435-145-39 (.734) over 32 seasons has come while leading FGCU, the University of Miami, Lynn University and St. Thomas University.

E.A.G.L.E. CAMPAIGN
IT TAKES A TEAM to achieve our newest goal - a $10 million campaign to address student-athlete needs in continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, and strength and conditioning as well as departmental needs in facility expansion and improvement as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the purpose of the E.A.G.L.E. Campaign - Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence. Join Our Team and pledge your gift today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!

#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April 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 92 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 15 seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just 11 seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 45 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. In 2022, the men's golf team became the first program to earn at at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. Eight FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including women's basketball (No. 20, 2021-22), beach volleyball (No. 20, 2022) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as four of the most recent. 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. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.50 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 26 consecutive semesters. The past five semesters (Fall 2019 – Spring 2022) saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher cumulative team GPA. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 - being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.