"It was a grinder" said Jim Blankenship. "The result was great, but they were hard to crack and their system presented some problems for us. Our kids did a phenomenal job of settling in at half and getting their feet under them for a strong second half."
"We played a very good team tonight and we played extremely well. I was very proud of our effort, desire, and work rate. We're disappointed with the result, but for a while tonight we were the better team so we can use this result to continue to grow," said head coach Peter Veltri.
For FGCU, Blakenship put junior Melissa Weck as starting goalkeeper while Veltri sent sophomore Sabrina Locas to represent Niagara.
The Eagles got the scoring going in the 25th minute as junior Evdokia "Evi" Popadinova found an open senior Holly Fritz just outside the box and she buried a spinning shot in the top 90 for her second goal of the year to put FGCU ahead 1-0.
"It was awesome," said Fritz. "Coach Jim (Blakenship) talked to us before the game and said that if we go 2-1, then we're just a middle of the pack team, and this game meant a lot because to go 3-0 means were a top tier team in the country, and that's what we wanted to play for. We got the W so it feels good.
"It was awesome," said Fritz. "Coach Jim (Blakenship) talked to us before the game and said that if we go 2-1, then we're just a middle of the pack team, and this game meant a lot because to go 3-0 means were a top tier team in the country, and that's what we wanted to play for. We got the W so it feels good.
In the final 20 minutes of the first half, FGCU continued to play strongly on the defensive side, preventing the Purple Eagles from scoring any goals, however, the Purple Eagles outshot FGCU five to three in the first half while each side put two shots on net.
In the second half, Eagles got a good look at goal early off of a corner from Frtiz but weren't able to capitalize, but they did capitalize moments later as junior Silvana Gordon and senior Shay Jackson put together a good run before Jackson crossed one onto the foot of Popadinova for her third goal of the season to make it 2-0 FGCU.
FGCU continued to put pressure on the Purple Eagles with shot after shot as the game approached the 70th minute. Veltri would pull Locas and sent redshirt junior Shania van Nuland to be goalkeeper for the remainder of the second half.
Finally FGCU finished Niagara off with another well executed play as junior Opal Curless played a ball from midfield to the top of the box where Jackson got a soft touch with her head to the foot of an open Gordon who didn't miss from short range to make it 3-0.
"Honestly, for me, I just love our team, and I generally want us to win," said Gordon. "So coming off the bench doesn't matter. If I'm starting or if I'm coming off the bench, as long as we win, I'm happy. If I get 10 minutes, if I play the whole game, it's fine.
"For my role coming off the bench, it's just to get the energy up, and trying to make an impact when I can."
"Honestly, for me, I just love our team, and I generally want us to win," said Gordon. "So coming off the bench doesn't matter. If I'm starting or if I'm coming off the bench, as long as we win, I'm happy. If I get 10 minutes, if I play the whole game, it's fine.
"For my role coming off the bench, it's just to get the energy up, and trying to make an impact when I can."
Niagara would get three late shots off, one hitting the crossbar and two others sailing high as the Eagles finished off their clean sheet in a 3-0 victory in a wave of 605 lively students and fans, and of course yours truly along with a few alumni Dirty Birds.
"It's absolutely phenomenal how much the community supports us, and we feel that energy," said Fritz on the attendance. "Our legs were a little tired tonight, and that energy from the crowd spruced us and we got goal-after-goal and the energy really helped us push forward."
"This year, we don't get a lot of home games," said Gordon on the attendance. "When we do, we hang up posters everywhere, tell everyone to come to the games, and I'm so happy with the turnout because it really pump us up knowing that everyone is supporting us, and we're gonna go far this year, and we're gonna need our crowd with us."
"It's absolutely phenomenal how much the community supports us, and we feel that energy," said Fritz on the attendance. "Our legs were a little tired tonight, and that energy from the crowd spruced us and we got goal-after-goal and the energy really helped us push forward."
"This year, we don't get a lot of home games," said Gordon on the attendance. "When we do, we hang up posters everywhere, tell everyone to come to the games, and I'm so happy with the turnout because it really pump us up knowing that everyone is supporting us, and we're gonna go far this year, and we're gonna need our crowd with us."
Weck (3-0) would finish wit her 21st career shutout with two saves.
Locas (2-2) would be credited with her second loss of the season after giving up two goals with two saves.
Van Nuland would give up one goal with one save.
Up Next:
The Eagles will wrap up their two-game homestead against Power 5 Conference member Michigan (3-2) on Sunday at 1 PM before they begin their six-game road trip, beginning in Ohio.
Below are photos of me with a few of the soccer players:
Below are photos of me with a few of the soccer players:
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| Reunited with Marjorie "Ma" Boilesen |
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| With Evdokia "Evi" Popadinova |
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| With Opal Curless |
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