FGCU WSOC vs RV Auburn Recap

The Sunday afternoon match between the FGCU women's soccer team (1-0) and Auburn (0-1) was cancelled due to weather. The teams made it through the first half of play before a storm cell parked on top of the FGCU Soccer Complex. Because the Tigers had travel restrictions, the teams were forced to call the game.

Both FGCU and Auburn battled the weather conditions in Southwest Florida throughout the day. The game was originally scheduled for a 1 p.m. start time, but lightning in the area bumped kick-off back a little over an hour. Though the teams were able to start the game, the players had to deal with intermittent sprinkles throughout the opening 45 minutes.

"Obviously, it's unfortunate because any time we get an opportunity to play against this level of competition, we want to get the game in," said head coach Jim Blankenship. "I was really pleased to see the way that we came out and battled as a team. We talked to the players about maintaining possession and putting the pressure on and they did a great job at executing that. We will still watch film of the first half and learn from it before we head to Michigan to take on another top school next weekend."

The Eagles outshot their visitors 6-4 and dominated possession, owning a 64-36% advantage. The Tigers came out aggressively and tested goalkeeper Melissa Weck (Yorba Linda, CA/Esperanza HS) early in the match, as the senior came up with her first save just over two minutes into play. FGCU also had a few good chances, highlighted by a shot from redshirt-junior Megan Young in the 37th minute that bounced off the left post. A few minutes later, Young (White Lake, MI/Walled Lake Northern HS) had a breakaway shot that she tried to sneak through the side, but Auburn's keeper made the save. Senior Evdokia Popadinova (Hadzhidimovo, Bulgaria/Northwestern Ohio) also tested the Tigers' goalie with a one-on-one opportunity, but her shot was saved. The teams went into the break knotted up at 0-0 just before the second lightning delay went into effect.

Because the game did not progress to 70 minutes, it is incomplete. The NCAA rule book states that if conditions lead to a suspended game and the game is not resumed the same day, it is considered a "no contest".

Up Next:
The Eagles will hit the road for the first time this season to head to Ann Arbor for a match against Michigan (1-0-0) on Friday, Aug. 30. Kick-off against the Wolverines is set for 5 p.m. at the U-M Soccer Stadium. It will be the second meeting between the two programs; FGCU claimed a 3-2 over Michigan at the FGCU Soccer Complex last season.