FORT MYERS, Fla. - Four Florida Gulf Coast University women's soccer standouts landed on the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Team.
"Caps off an incredible season for our ladies," head coach Jim Blankenship said. "I'm proud of them and the recognition they have received from the coaching community. It's a testament to their hard work and commitment. Well deserved."
Erika Zschuppe earned First Team honors, Reese Mendenhall and Kendal Gargiula both garnered Second Team distinction while Ashley Labbe was awarded Third Team recognition. The honors combined to raise the program's mark to 42 all-time selections. At least one Eagle has made the All-South Region list for 14 consecutive seasons. Zschuppe's First Team distinction marks just the 12th time that an Eagle has landed that high on the list.
Each honoree played a major role in FGCU's back-to-back ASUN Tournament Championship winning seasons, guiding the program to its eighth NCAA Tournament appearance. Mendenhall, Gargiula, and Labbe's performance in the classroom also earned them a spot on the CSC Academic All-District Team earlier this week.
Zschuppe pulled off a hat trick in the come-from-behind win over North Alabama in the ASUN Tournament Championship match. Her performance propelled her to ASUN Tournament MVP status.
The two-time honoree sophomore midfielder started in all 22 matches and produced a team-leading 10 goals, three of which were game-winners and one landed on SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays of the day. Her 10 goals ranked second across the conference.
Zschuppe emerged as one of only two in the ASUN to score double-digit goals. The First Team All-ASUN section also added a team-leading eight assists, and her 28 points throughout the campaign paced the ASUN.
Mendenhall started in all 22 matches, accumulating 1,972 minutes on the backline defense for FGCU.
The junior ASUN First Team selection played a vital role in helping produce 10 shutouts, seven in conference play, and helped keep No. 4 overall Texas Tech in a NCAA First Round battle scoreless for 78 minutes. Offensively, Mendenhall added four assists to the Eagles' cause.
Gargiula was also named to the ASUN First Team, making 22 starts for the Green & Blue. The sophomore forward found the back of the net eight times, ranking second on the team just behind Zschuppe and third overall in the ASUN.
Garigiula fired a team-leading four game-winning goals. Her brilliant header in the ASUN Semifinals against Central Arkansas made SportsCenter Top 10.
Labbe rounds out the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region distinction for FGCU in 2023, now a three-time honoree of the awards. Labbe was one of four Eagles to be named to the ASUN First Team this season and started in all 17 matches in which she played.
Despite missing five games due to injury, she emerged third on the team in goals scored with six, producing two game-winners. She tied for the team lead in total shots with 66 but fired a team-leading 34 shots on goal.
