LOUISVILLE, Ky.- The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles earned three big ASUN road points Sunday afternoon in Louisville, Ky., netting a pair of first half goals and hanging on late for a 2-1 win over Bellarmine. The win extends the Eagles unbeaten streak to nine while earning head coach Jim Blankenship his 475^th career victory, fifth most of any active Division I coach in the country.
 
Both teams had chances early on as Lexie Bennett made a pair of runs into the box and got crosses off, the second finding the right foot of Kaitlin Gabelman for the game's first shot and Bellarmine got their first shot on moments later with a ball off the crossbar to keep the game tied 10 minutes in.
 
The Eagles broke through first in the 25^th minute as they drew a free kick in the attacking third and Kate Friday drove a ball into the box that Gabelman headed past the Bellarmine keeper to put FGCU in front 1-0.
 
FGCU looked like they were going to make it 2-0 moments later as Bennett made another deep run, this time getting a shot off that just missed it's mark, clanging off the crossbar to keep it a 1-0 game.
 
The Knights answered in the 38^th minute, putting a long cross towards net that pinged around and eventually ended up in the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1.
 
The game didn't stay tied long as 52 seconds later the Eagles were back on the attack and Megan Morgan found Ava Russell in the six and she buried it to put FGCU back in front 2-1 into the half.
 
Six minutes into the second half the Eagles had a chance to add an insurance goal after Bennett played a long ball to Sarah Greiner, but the Knights keeper ranged out to just beat Greiner to the ball to keep it a 2-1 game.
 
Bellarmine had chances in the 58^th and 65^th minute, the first just missed it's mark wide while the second was headed out of danger off the post by Eagle defender Hanna Phillips to maintain the 2-1 lead for FGCU.
 
In the 79^th minute Morgan won a one on one battle just outside the box and got a right footed shot on target, but it was stopped by the Bellarmine keeper to keep it a 2-1 game.
 
Still looking for some insurance the Eagles thought they had a chance in the 81^st minute as contact in the box forced a video review, but it was determined there was no foul and the two teams played on in a one goal contest.
 
Bellarmine pushed up in the final 10 minutes, generating a number of chances, but Madara Bome and the FGCU defense stood tall, keeping the Knights out of the net and preserving a 2-1 victory for the Eagles.
 
The Eagles remain unbeaten in ASUN play through two weeks of action, slotting into second place with a 2-0-2 record and eight points. The win pushes their overall record to 5-1-5 and extends their unbeaten streak to nine games overall. Bellarmine falls to 3-6-2 overall and 1-2-1 in ASUN action.
 
The win is the 475^th of FGCU head coach Jim Blankenship's career where he moves into a fifth place tie among active Division I coaches in victories.
 
After a successful road trip that saw them pick up results in both contests, the Eagles return home to Pickering Field where they begin a three game homestand on Thursday, hosting North Florida in a 7 p.m. kick in Fort Myers.
 
For more information on FGCU women's soccer, follow @FGCU_WSoccer on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook, and visit fgcuathletics.com.
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