Although a legendary WWE tag team, the Road Warriors, used the term "Legion of Doom" as well and the DC Comic uses the name "Legion of Doom", I am not using the term "Legion of Doom" in any references to copyright in any way. It's just for fun and no finance, so I don't want to stir any pots whatsoever and cause any legal problem of sorts.
With the win, FGCU is now 2-0 against Georgia Southern and oddly, it was the same 3-0 score as last season.
For goalkeepers, FGCU head coach Jim Blankenship had junior and defending A-SUN Goalkeeper of the Year Melissa Weck start while Georgia Southern head coach Brian Dunleavy sent redshirt senior Jocelyn Springer to counter.
One minute into the match, sophomore Hope Van Wagner attempted a shot, but Springer was quick to save.
Five minutes later after back-to-back fouls from Georgia Southern and a foul from FGCU, senior Holly Fritz attempted a shot that went wide. Three GSU fouls and two Fritz corner kicks later, Boilesen attempted a header that would be block.
After another Fritz corner kick, junior Lindsey Patton would attempt a shot, but Springer was once again quick to get the save.
17 minutes in, and after two FGCU offside calls, Boilesen would give FGCU a start to the lead with a chipper for the first goal of the 2018 season. This was Boilesen's 12th career goal with FGCU and moved into a tie for 8th place with Ali Rogers, FGCU current women's soccer direct of operations, and Olivia Elias. The Brazil native is five goals away from passing Gina Petracco (16) for 7th all-time in career goals.
GSU would make the first substitution of the match as sophomore Juveina Hylton would come in for redshirt sophomore Marcela Montoya.
FGCU would attempt two more shots from Fritz and Van Wagner, but to no avail.
20 minutes in, GSU would make two more substitutions as sophomore Maddie Klintworth subbed in for senior Asha Vilaythong and senior Hannah Smith subbed in for junior Elsa Borjesson.
FGCU would also make a substitution as junior Silvana Gordon checked in and immediately got a good look at goal but narrowly missed.
Popadinova would then attempt a shot, but was also unsuccessful. The Bulgarian native made her debut for FGCU after spending her first two seasons with NAIA Northwestern Ohio.
26 minutes in, redshirt junior Halle Huff would sub in for Hylton. FGCU continued to put pressure on GSU after corner kicks from Fritz and shots from Patton, but once again to no avail.
After senior Tyler Gordon checked in for freshman Brooke Barrett and redshirt freshman Kristin Sandifer subbed in for freshman Alanna Lutchmansingh for GSU, senior Shay Jackson would sub in for Boilesen.
After another GSU foul, Popadinova would attempt a shot that hit the crossbar before GSU made another substitution by sending freshman Vala Kristin Theodorsdottir to sub in for fellow freshman Megan Przybysz.
After three straight unsuccessful shots from Jackson, Popadinova and senior Camille Knudstrup, a GSU foul and junior Courtney Johnson subbing in for fellow junior Frida Brattum, Huff would take GSU's first shot of the game, but unfortunately the shot was blocked.
FGCU would make one final substitution as freshman Alyssa Abbondandolo subbed in for Popadinova before the first half ended. Abbondandolo was making her debut after graduating from Oasis High School.
Four minutes into the second half, FGCU would get their second goal of the game as Van Wagner would get a header with assists from redshirt sophomore Megan Young and freshman Ashlee Brentlinger.
Brentlinger made her debut after graduating from Padua Academy.
Young made her return to the starting lineup after sitting out the entire 2017 season with a knee injury.
After the goal, Borjesson would come back in for senior Junique Rodriguez.
GSU would cause four straight fouls before Popadinova would give FGCU the lead with her first goal of the season with FGCU and in the NCAA.
"I'm very excited that I scored my first goal with FGCU," Popadinova said. "Obviously, I had some good chances as well, and I felt down when I missed, but I got myself up and scored on the next opportunity, so I'm really happy."
After the goal, FGCU would make substitutions as Jackson reentered the game and subbed in for sophomore Cassidy Morgan before being subbed out by sophomore Kavina Ganeshan, juniors Emilie Olsen and Petra Smetkova would sub in for Boilesen and Knudstrup, and freshmen Kara Kyramarios, Brianna Hatfield and Logan Oldani would sub in for Fritz, Brentlinger and Young.
Redshirt sophomore Tori Dorr subbed in for Gordon. Dorr joined Young in making her return after sitting out the whole 2017 season with a leg injury.
Junior Opall Curless made her FGCU debut in the starting lineup. Curless is debuting after spending her first two years with Syracuse.
Kyramarios, Hatfield, Oldani, Abbondandolo and Hawes all joined Popadinova, Curless and Brentlinger in making their debuts.
Weck would earn the shutout despite not getting any saves.
Popadinova took five shots in the game.
Fritz, Van Wagner, Patton and Boilesen took three shots each.
Gordon took two shots.
Knudstrup, Jackson, and Olsen took one shot each.
Springer gave up all three goals and had five saves.
"It was fantastic," Blankenship said. "We got off to a great start and playing at home in front of a great crowd you could see the energy and excitement in our kids."
"We played a very impressive team, FGCU was outstanding. It was a tough atmosphere to play in as well, their fans were excellent," said Dunleavy. "The first half was a barrage, and although we conceded two 2nd half goals. We were a much better team after halftime, and were able to adjust to the pace of the game and put some pressure on them. Tough result, but we learned a lot about ourselves tonight, and we can move forward to our home opener on Sunday."
759 students and fans were in attendance, including the men's soccer team, the volleyball team and men's and women's cross country team.
"It was amazing," Popadinova said on the attendance. "In my old school (Northwestern Ohio), we couldn't get such a big crowd, and it's always exciting to play in front of so many people, so I really want to thank them, and I hope they will come support us for the next game.
"I thought we connected really well together, said Van Wagner. "Obviously it's a brand new team, so there's a bunch of new girls. We did really well keeping it positive, and working together as a team.
There were a number of similarities in Friday's victory and last year's season opening win at Georgia Southern. Both contests finished in 3-0 FGCU wins. Boilesen and Van Wagner were the first two players to score for the Eagles for the second straight year. FGCU allowed just one shot on the night and none on goal, just as they did last year against the Eagles.
Up Next:
After starting the year 1-0 for the second straight season, FGCU will now face one of their toughest tasks of the season as they head to Orlando Sunday to take on the 16th ranked UCF Knights in a 6 PM start from the UCF Soccer Complex.
"I''m thinking the things that we can carry over into the UCF game is our energy on the field. It was great having so many fans out there tonight that kept the energy high, but bringing that over into the UCF game will definitely help us out to prepare for that match," said Van Wagner.
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