In fact, this was the actual same score from the first time they played each other last season. With the win, the Eagles are now 2-0 against the Warriors. The game did count as a season game for the Eagles, but would not effect their RPI no matter the result. For the Warriors, this game was ruled as a scrimmage and did not count toward their season record.
"Rarely do you get as many opportunities as we did tonight" head coach Jim Blankenship said. "Our kids capitalized on a lot of those chances and I am pleased with the results. We set the tone early and executed throughout the night."
Blakenship sent his usual starting goalkeeper junior Melissa Weck while Webber head coach Brian Fallon sent junior Alyssa Rodriguez to counter.
Not even five minutes into the game and who would you think would open the floodgates for the Eagles? None other than one half of the A-SUN Legion of Doom, junior Evdokia "Evi" Popadinova. Popadinova would take a pass from freshman Alyssa Abbondandolo and score the first goal of the game to make it 1-0 FGCU. This was Popadinova's 12th goal of the game and as a result, Popadinova passed junior and fellow A-SUN LOD member Marjorie "Ma" Boilesen (2017), Shannen Wacker (2012) and Linda Haw (2007) for fifth most goals in a single season. For Abbondandolo, it was her first assist of the season.
19 minutes in, the Eagles made several substitutions. The normal subs that entered were junior Silvana Gordon, freshmen Kara Kyramarios and Ashlee Brentlinger and senior Shay Jackson, but Blakenship sent a few names that I did not expect to enter in the first half: redshirt freshman Morgan Hawes, redshirt sophomore Tori Dorr, junior Emilie Olsen and freshman Brianna Hatfield. Although on the other hand, I would suspect that Olsen would enter in the first half.
31 minutes into the first half, the Eagles would extend the lead with a goal from Dorr with assists from Hawes and Olsen. This was Dorr's first ever collegiate goal. After the goal, freshman Logan Oldani and sophomore Syniah Clark entered in the game. Again I did not expect that at all.
10 minutes before the first half, Hawes would extend the lead to 3-0 with a goal to the top left side of the net with an assist from Kyramarios before the end of the first half. Just like Dorr, this was Hawes' first collegiate goal as well.
Blakenship made a change before the second half started and sent freshman Stephanie Starr to the box to sub in for Weck.
Once again, not even five minutes into the second half, the Eagles would score, by none other than Popadinova with assists from Abbondandolo and Hatfield to make it 4-0. This was the Bulgarian's second goal of the game and her 13th of the season. Popadinova is now two away from passing FGCU's all-time leader Tabby Tindell (14, 2016 season) for fourth most goals in a single season. Abbondandolo got her second assist of the game.
55 minutes in, Abbondandolo would increase the Eagles lead to 5-0 with her third goal of the season with an assist from Gordon. Gordon got her fourth assist of the season.
After Abbondandolo's goal, the Warriors would make their first shot attempt as Hannah Vigotty shot it before Starr made the save.
10 minutes later, senior Holly Fritz would make it 6-0 FGCU with her sixth goal of the season with assist from Jackson before Blakenship pulled her out. This was Jackson's fourth assist of the season.
The Warriors would attempt their second shot as junior Francesca Mascali shot it too high seven minutes after Fritz's.goal. Two minutes after Webber's second shot attempt, Brentlinger would score her first goal of the season off of a deflection to make it 7-0 FGCU.
76 minutes in, Hawes would score one final goal, her second of the game and season to make it 8-0 FGCU with assists from Clark and Olsen before the game ended. Clark's assist was her first of the season and this was her debut after graduating from Ida Baker High School. For Olsen, her two assists in the game were her second and third of the season.
Weck (11-3-2) would get another clean sheet, her ninth of the season and her 28th in her career. Starr would get one save in the whole second half.
Although it did not count on her record, Rodriguez (1-1) would earn the loss after giving up all eight goals, but finished with 10 saves.
Many of the Eagles totals in the win finished third in the all-time single game record book. Their 38 shots, 10 assists, and 26 points on the night were all third while their eight goals in the victory were fourth most, tying their total against Webber from a year ago.
Up Next:
FGCU will wrap up their 2018 regular season on Saturday at home in The Nest when they host Stetson on Senior Night at 7 PM.
The Senior Night ceremony will start before the game and will recognize Shay Jackson, Holly Fritz and Camille Knudstrup and their accomplishments.
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