FORT MYERS, Fla.- Sitting atop the ASUN Conference table after the opening week of play, the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles hit the road for the first time in league action on Thursday as they make the trip to Nashville to take on longtime rival Lipscomb under the lights in the Music City.
 
The Eagles flip the calendar to October after an unbeaten September in the friendly confines of Pickering Field. FGCU was 2-0-2 in September as part of a five game homestand and did not concede a goal last week, going 1-0-1 to begin ASUN play. Thursday they opened conference play with a dominating 3-0 win over Queens, outshooting the Royals 26-1 in the process. Kate Friday got the Eagles on the board early with Kaitlin Gabelman scoring her team leading fourth of the season quickly behind that to put FGCU out in front before Keira Morgan sealed the deal with a late tally to finish off the 3-0 win. Sunday offense was tougher to come by as West Florida put up a concerted effort to limit the Eagles chances offensively, ultimately resulting in a scoreless draw after 90 minutes. Madara Bome has kept the Eagles' net clean in three straight games, playing the last 294 minutes without conceding a goal while leading the ASUN with three solo clean sheets this season. Monday she was named the ASUN Goalkeeper of the Week while teammate Hanna Phillips was honored with ASUN Defensive Player of the Week accolades.
 
Lipscomb is happy to get back home where they have collected all three of their wins this season. The Bisons are coming off of back-to-back ASUN Championships and last year pulled the upset of the NCAA Tournament with a stunning 1-0 win over #6 Mississippi State in Starkville in the opening round. They are off to a 3-2-4 start to their 2026 season but went winless in their opening road trip of ASUN play, tying Jacksonville 2-2 and falling to North Florida 1-0 on Sunday. Offense has been a struggle for the Bisons who have managed just nine goals in nine games, but as usual, the Lipscomb back line has been stout, allowing just seven goals on the year which ranks second best in the ASUN. Tatum Ahlemeyer has been Lipscomb's most consistent offensive threat, scoring four of their nine goals on the year and recording the game winning goal in all three of their victories.
 
The Eagles and Bisons have a rich history on the pitch with FGCU holding an 11-3-6 advantage in the all-time series. The Eagles have also felt nice and comfortable in the Music City, earning results in nine of 10 meetings all-time in Nashville. Three of the last four times the two hooked up, including the last two dates have resulted in draws, including a 2-2 final last time they tangled in Nashville in 2024.
 
Kick Thursday is set for 6 p.m. (CT) with the game streaming on ESPN+.
 
For more information on FGCU women's soccer, follow @FGCU_WSoccer on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook, and visit fgcuathletics.com.