FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles extended their regular season home unbeaten streak to 10 Saturday morning at Pickering Field in Fort Myers, blanking the visiting High Point Panthers 2-0 in a match up of two teams picked atop their respective conference preseason polls at the start of the year.

"It was a fantastic result for the ladies" FGCU head coach Jim Blankenship said. "I am proud of how hard they worked to get this win at home and to earn a shutout right before conference will go a long way in continuing to build our confidence as a team."

FGCU put pressure on the Panthers right out of the gates, getting the ball into the box twice in the first 10 minutes for chances. They broke through in the 10^th minute as High Point's keeper was called for a delay after exceeding the eight second held ball rule, leading to a corner for FGCU with the new NCAA legislation. The Eagles cashed in the corner as Tessa Brooks found Taylor Latini who lofted a ball towards goal and found the head of Lily Borders who deflected it into the back of the net to put FGCU in front 1-0.

The Eagles looked like they were going to double the lead in the 18^th minute as Brooks curled a long shot outside the 18', but as it floated towards goal it banged off the crossbar and over the end line to keep it a 1-0 game.

The Eagles next two shots came from Keira Morgan up front as she got herself a chance in the 19^th minute before Megan Morgan put her in on the second in the 24^th, but her first shot was saved and the second missed just high as it remained a 1-0 contest.

FGCU continued to pressure the Panthers back line as Ryleigh Acosta and Brooke Viccars combined for the next two chances, one on a give and go in the box and the second an Acosta flick off her head after a long cross by Viccars.

It looked like it was going to be 2-0 Eagles heading into the half as Ryanne Robinson sent a beautiful ball into the box in the 43^rd minute and found a streaking Maya Henley Buisan who got a head on it and sent it towards goal, but a big save by the Panthers keeper kept it a 1-0 game as the teams went to the break.

FGCU dominated the possession in the first half, spending 64% of their time with the ball in the attacking half while outshooting High Point 10-4.

The second half began much like the first with more pressure coming from the Green and Blue. Lexie Bennett made a good one on one move and got herself an opportunity for a shot, drilling a right footed strike that clipped the crossbar and sailed out to keep it a 1-0 game.

It was dejavu in the 57^th minute as Borders once again had a chance with a header off of a corner, but this time the Panthers were able to keep it from turning into a goal as it remained 1-0.

The FGCU back line remained organized through the first 25 minutes of the second half, holding High Point without a single shot to keep it a 1-0 game.

With time winding down, Bennett made a run into the box and drew a foul resulting in a penalty kick that Sarah Greiner roofed to put the game on ice for the Eagles as they took a 2-0 lead with under six minutes to go.

High Point had their best scoring chance of the afternoon in the 87^th minute, but Madara Bome pinched the post for her second save of the game to keep her shutout intact and FGCU closed things out from there, coming away with a 2-0 win to close out the nonconference portion of their 2026 season.

"We created a lot of chances offensively today and really didn't give them many on the other end" Blankenship said. "We played really well together in the back end to finish off the shutout."
FGCU outshot the Panthers 17-9 in the game including getting seven shots on to just two for High Point. Eight of the Eagles 11 starters recorded a shot in the win including Borders who's tally went down as the game winner and Greiner who made FGCU 4-4 this season on penalty kicks with her late finish from the spot. Bome stopped both shots she saw on goal to record her sixth career solo clean sheet.

FGCU runs their unbeaten streak to five as they improve to 3-1-3 on the year while High Point's early season struggles continue as they fall to 1-6-1 after a Big South Championship last season.

The Eagles will have 12 days off before returning to the pitch on September 24^th to begin ASUN play at home against Queens in a 7 p.m. kick at Pickering Field.

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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