BATON ROUGE, La.- The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles went into Baton Rouge looking for an early season signature win and got one Sunday afternoon at the LSU Soccer Stadium, coming from behind to defeat the LSU Tigers 3-2 for their first win over an SEC team since the 2018 season.

"I'm super proud of our players" head coach Jim Blankenship said." To go down 1-0 in the first minute and to fight back the way we did, it shows a lot of character from this group. These are the type of games we live for as a program and to get a result is phenomenal."

The game didn't start with the script the Eagles had drawn up as LSU was able to get behind the FGCU defense and finish a goal just 1:16 into the contest to take an early 1-0 lead.

The Eagles quickly regrouped, getting their first shot from Kate Friday moments later before Lily Borders pushed a long ball ahead and just missed connecting with Ryleigh Acosta for a chance at the equalizer in the 11^th minute.

FGCU continued to put pressure on the Tiger back line and in the 19^th minute it paid off as Keira Morgan came off the Eagle bench and won a one on one battle against an LSU defender in the box before crossing it to Kaitlin Gabelman for a tap in goal to tie the score at one a piece.

Tessa Brooks cut out a ball at midfield and made a push into the attacking third in the 23^rd minute before serving a ball into the middle of the box for a chance for the Eagles, but it was cut out by the Tiger defense as the game remained deadlocked at one midway through the half.

The Tigers fought back, getting a pair of chances in the 26^th and 27^th minutes, but FGCU keeper Madara Bome was up to the task, making a pair of saves to keep the Eagles level.

The back and forth action continued late in the half as both teams had chances but couldn't break through for the go ahead goal.

That changed in the 38^th minute as Borders launched a long distance throw in into the box and connected with Morgan who flicked it onto the right boot of Ava Russell who beat the Tiger keeper to put FGCU in front 2-1.

The Eagles played tight defensively in the final seven minutes of the half, holding the Tigers without a shot to take a 2-1 lead into the locker rooms at the half.

Looking for more, Sarah Greiner pushed up from the back line early in the second half to give FGCU a pair of opportunities. Her free kick from 35 yards out sailed just high of goal in the 55^th minute before a 61^st minute cross connected with Kate Friday for an attempt on goal, but a save by the Tigers kept it a one goal game at 2-1 with 29 minutes to go.

In the 67^th minute LSU strung together a run into the Eagle end as they looked to equalize, but Borders cut out a through ball to end the run and keep FGCU in front.

The Eagles didn't sit back and defend through, continuing to look for opportunities to extend upon their lead. Avery White created a chance in the 71^st minute and Lexie Bennett drew a foul just outside the box in the 76^th minute for a free kick, but the Eagles couldn't cash either chance in as it remained a 2-1 game.

With time winding down, the Tigers began to push forward more aggressively, earning back to back corners and threatening in the 79^th minute, one chance leading to a video replay looking for an FGCU foul in the box that would have resulted in a penalty, but the review confirmed the Eagles played it clean and the game ticked into the final 10 minutes with the Blue and Green continuing to lead it 2-1.

The Eagles looked like they had the game put away in the 84^th minute as a shot from just outside the 18 deflected off the hand of a Tiger defender inside of the box, resulting in a penalty kick for FGCU with 6:52 remaining on the clock. Greiner took the penalty for the Eagles and buried it, putting one in the upper 90 to make it 3-1 Eagles.

Just when the Eagles thought they had things sewed up, LSU answered back, needing just 1:37 to finish one in the FGCU net to make it a one goal game once again at 3-2 with 5:19 to go.

The Eagles dug in from there, controlling the possession in their attacking half over the next four minutes to bleed the clock and remain in front.

LSU had one final chance in the 89^th minute, but their last ditch effort sailed high and right of goal and the final seconds ticked away before the final horn sounded with the Eagles finishing off the 3-2 win.

The sides finished with 16 shots each with FGCU finding the target with eight and LSU six.

The Eagles got contributions from up and down their lineup as five different players recorded a goal or an assist while eight different players had a shot in the contest. Greiner finished with a team high five shots in the victory while playing all 90 minutes and netting the eventual game winner with her 84^th minute penalty kick conversion. Morgan was outstanding off the FGCU bench, recording assists on each of their first two goals while also notching a pair of shots in 39 minutes of work. Bome earned the win in goal, making four big saves for the Eagles to improve to 2-1-1 on the year.

The win is the fifth all-time for the Eagles against an SEC opponent, but their first since the 2018 season when they went on the road and defeated Alabama.

FGCU sweeps their first trip to the state of Louisiana to improve to 2-1-1 on the year while LSU, who started the year ranked 16^th in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, falls to 1-3-0.

Eagle fans will have plenty of chances to see the Blue and Green at home over the next month as FGCU plays their next five games in the friendly confines of Pickering Field. Their five game homestand begins on Thursday when they host in-state rival FIU 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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