FGCU WSOC vs Marshall Recap

Senior Evdokia Popadinova scored both of FGCU's goals as the Eagles (5-3-0) handed Marshall (2-7-0) a 2-0 loss Sunday afternoon at the FGCU Soccer Complex. The win marks FGCU's third in a row as the team closed out its non-conference slate.

"Today was a shutout, a win and an overall great result," said head coach Jim Blankenship, who recently surpassed 400 career wins. "Now, we get to focus on starting conference play. I'm pleased with the way we've played so far. We had a tough, demanding schedule but we've earned some good results. I'm proud of the players and I know they're excited to move forward."

The Eagles dominated the Herd throughout the entire 90 minutes of play and maintained possession of the ball for almost 60% of the match. FGCU's back line limited Marshall to just four shots, the lowest of any opponent the team has matched up against this season.

In the 29th minute of the game, Popadinova capped off an unassisted drive into the box with her third goal of the season that gave the Green and Blue its initial 1-0 edge. In the opening 45 minutes, FGCU tallied six shots, including a pair on goal, while the Herd took just two.

FGCU carried its intensity from the first half into the second stanza, as senior Marjorie Boilesen fired a shot off less than a minute after the teams kicked off. Boilesen, Popadinova and redshirt-junior Megan Young each wore down Marshall's keeper with on-frame tests.

With less than 13 minutes left in the match, Popadinova scored her second goal of the day after heading in a ball from Young, who had sent in a pass from junior Syniah Clark. Both Young and Clark notched their second assists of the season on the shot.

Senior Melissa Weck (5-3) only had to make one save as she collected her fourth shutout of the season. With today's result, she now stands at second in the FGCU record book with 31.4 career shutouts. Popadinova, who will wear #17 for the rest of the season, is up to 18 career goals, the seventh-most in team history, which pushed her pass Ally Kasun (17, 2012-15) and tied with Boilesen.

Up Next:
FGCU will open up A-SUN league play with a two-match road swing against North Alabama (3-5-0) and Lipscomb (6-3-0), who finished in the top two of the conference a season ago. The Eagles will take on the Lions in an 8 p.m. match on Thursday, Sept. 26 before heading up to Nashville to take on reigning A-SUN champ Lipscomb at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29.