FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles became the first team in the ASUN to punch their ticket to the postseason on Sunday, shutting out the visiting Stetson Hatters 2-0 on Senior Day at Pickering Field to close their 2026 regular season home schedule unbeaten at 5-0-4.
The Eagles wasted little time in jumping on the Hatters as they drew a free kick in the attacking third in the 5
th minute allowing
Sarah Greiner to service a ball into the box that found the head of
Kate Friday for her second goal of the season to give FGCU a quick 1-0 lead.
FGCU doubled their lead in the 21
st minute as
Madara Bome launched a goal kick to midfield which was fed ahead by
Kaitlin Gabelman to
Taylor Latini who beat the Hatter keeper one on one for her third goal of the season to make it 2-0 Eagles. The assist by Bome was the first by an Eagle keeper since Katie Sullivan picked one up during the 2021 season in a win over North Florida.
Friday just missed her second goal of the game in the 28
th minute as
Megan Morgan drove a corner into the box and Friday sent it towards goal, but a good save by the Stetson keeper kept the ball out of the net. She had another chance in the 37
th minute, but her shot just clipped off the post to keep it a 2-0 game into the half.
The Eagles were the aggressors in the first 45 minutes, outshooting the Hatters 11-2 in the period.
The second half didn't get off to quite as quick of a start for the Eagles as a couple of early yellow cards forced both FGCU forwards off the pitch just 10 minutes into the period.
Stetson had their best chance of the day in the 72
nd minute with a strike from inside the box, but the chance was just off target to keep it a 2-0 game.
FGCU created some chances late, but couldn't add any insurance. It wasn't needed however as they kept Stetson off the sheet and closed out a 2-0 win to finish the regular season unbeaten at home at Pickering Field.
The Eagles outshot the Hatters 18-4 in the contest but managed just four total shots on net and none in the second half of action.
Friday led the Eagles with five shots and the game winner early on while Latini put two of her three shots on target, including one in the back of the net for her third of the year. Bome stopped both shots on target she faced for her fifth solo clean sheet of the season.
FGCU wins their fourth straight to improve to 8-1-5 overall and 5-0-2 in ASUN action where they remain on top of the league table with 17 points with three games left to go. The Eagles become the first ASUN team to punch their ticket to the postseason and inch closer to clinching home field advantage for the Championships which begin in early November. Stetson loses their sixth straight to fall to 2-12-0 overall and 0-6-0 in ASUN play.
FGCU improves to 21-1-1 all-time against Stetson, their most wins against any opposing team in program history.
The Eagles are back in action on Thursday as they take on Jacksonville in the River City in a 5 p.m. Kick.
For more information on FGCU women's soccer, follow @FGCU_WSoccer on
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