FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Florida Gulf Coast University women's soccer team will host LSU for the first time in program history Thursday at Pickering Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+. Fans are encouraged to wear green in support of the Eagles' Greenout.
FGCU (1-0) opened its season with a 6-0 win over Webber International on Sunday. Preseason ASUN Player of the Year Erika Zschuppe and Pitt transfer Ava Boyd led the attack with two goals apiece. Zschuppe struck twice in the first five minutes and enters the week ranked No. 82 in TopDrawerSoccer's National Top 100 Players.
The Eagles have claimed either the ASUN regular-season or tournament championship in 13 of the past 16 years, including last year's regular-season crown with a 9-1-1 record. This season, FGCU was picked to finish second in the league. Head coach Jim Blankenship is the sixth-winningest active coach in Division I women's soccer. He earned his 450th career win last season and holds a .728 career winning percentage. In 19 seasons at FGCU, he is 220-86-37, winning at least 10 matches in all but one season.
LSU (1-1) visits Fort Myers following a 1-0 loss at No. 10 Wake Forest on Sunday. The Tigers limited the Demon Deacons to 11 shots, with the decisive goal coming in the 32nd minute. LSU opened its season with a 2-0 win over South Alabama, and its roster features seven players on the SEC preseason watch list. The Tigers are seeking their fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in 2025.
FGCU is 4-14-1 all-time against SEC opponents, with wins over Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi State. The Eagles defeated Alabama on the road in 2018 and earned home victories over Mississippi State in 2013 and Arkansas in 2010. FGCU has two wins over Mississippi State. This season, FGCU has three opportunities to add to that total.
Following Thursday's match, FGCU will play four straight on the road, beginning with Florida Atlantic and FIU to close out August. The Eagles will then visit SEC opponents Florida and Auburn before returning home Sept. 11 to face Grambling on First Responder Appreciation Night.
Season ticket packages, offered for the first time this fall, start at $60 and include access to both the men's and women's soccer programs. Single-game tickets begin at $12, with mini-plan options also available at FGCUtickets.com.
