FORT MYERS, Fla. – Kendal Gargiula scored twice Thursday to lift Florida Gulf Coast University women's soccer to a 3-0 shutout victory over North Alabama at Pickering Field.
"Proud of the team's performance tonight," head coach Jim Blankenship said. "Good to score early and set the tone. We possessed the ball well and created quality opportunities."
FGCU (8-5-2, 7-1-1 ASUN) also kept pace with Central Arkansas (8-5-2, 7-0-2 ASUN) atop the table, both earning three points Thursday night. Central Arkansas defeated Stetson 2-0, improving to 23 points. The Eagles are perched in second with 22 points. FGCU clashes with Central Arkansas on Sunday in a match that could potentially decide the Atlantic Sun Conference's regular season champion. FGCU has won the ASUN's regular season or tournament title in 12 out of the last 14 seasons, with the last regular season title coming in 2021 with an East Division crown.
Gargiula scored in the 26th and 62nd minute Thursday, her second multi-goal game of the season. Katharina Oelschlaeger and Maya Henley Buisan completed a give-and-go down the pitch. Buisan's ensuing cross found Gargiula's foot and the back of the net, giving FGCU an early 2-0 lead.
Oelschlaeger got the Eagles on the board in the eighth minute with her fifth goal of the year. FGCU took a 2-0 lead into the break.
Buisan would set up Gargiula again in the 62nd minute with a no-look, behind-the-back flick for the putaway goal. Judith Eklund was also credited with an assist on the goal, playing the original pass into the box. FGCU has scored at least one goal in each of its nine ASUN matches this season and at least two during its last six games.
In goal, Olivia Molina added five saves to her 2024 resume, which now includes four clean sheets. She is 15 saves away from breaking FGCU's single-season save mark of 117, a record that Molina set last season as a freshman. Molina currently has 103 saves to her name for the year.
FGCU faces Central Arkansas on Sunday in a fight for the top spot atop the regular season standings. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Pickering Field.
For tickets, purchase online
HERE or at the gate. Single-game tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for military and youth (ages 4-12). For groups of 10 or more, tickets start at $6. FGCU students, faculty and staff are free with a valid Eagle I.D.
