The FGCU women's soccer team (9-3-1, 4-0-1 A-SUN) claimed a 2-0 senior day victory over NJIT (8-6-0, 2-3-0 A-SUN) Sunday afternoon at the FGCU Soccer Complex. The Eagles now stand at the top of the A-SUN standings and are the only team undefeated in conference play.
"This is a great result for us, we knew that today was going to be really challenging," head coach Jim Blankenship said. "NJIT was one of a handful of undefeated teams in the conference, but I'm really happy with the pressure we put on them. We had two great goals and a really solid defensive performance. It was overall a great game for us and we put together a complete performance."
Before the game, the Eagles recognized eight seniors on the team and what they accomplished at FGCU: Evdokia Popadinova, Marjorie Boilesen, Silvana Gordon, Emilie Olson, Lindsey Patton, Melissa Weck, Petra Smetkova and Opal Curless. Following that, I had the utmost opportunity to sing the national anthem for them.
For the fourth consecutive match, the Eagles found the back of the net in the opening 45 minutes of play. Redshirt-junior Megan Young was the first to get the home team on the board, converting a pass from sophomore Kara Kyramarios just 13 minutes into the game. Young's goal was her first of the season and the second of her career.
Freshman Louise Lillback extended the team's lead with less than six minutes to go in the first stanza, knocking in the seventh goal of her rookie campaign. Popadinova and Boilesen were each credited with an assist as the team jumped out 2-0 over NJIT.
FGCU limited the visiting Highlanders to just one shot in the first half, taking its 2-0 advantage into the break.
The Eagles' defense prevented Weck from being tested until the 58th minute of the match, when NJIT's Katrina Nguyen-DeMary tallied the team's first on-frame attempt. Weck (9-3-1) went on to make just two more saves as she cruised to her sixth solo shutout of the season.
Redshirt freshman Molly Saylor (4-4-3) would earn the loss after giving up both goals while adding nine saves.
FGCU had a few more chances to score, one of which was a bicycle kick off the foot of senior Lindsey Patton that the NJIT keeper just barely corralled. Kyramarios, Popadinova and junior Hope Van Wagner also notched on-frame attempts in the final minutes of play, but the team ultimately held on to its original lead for the victory.
With the win, the Eagles extend their unbeaten streak to eight matches. The team has not lost since Sept. 12 and has outscored opponents 15-3 during the stretch.
Up Next:
FGCU will remain at the Nest to host UNF (9-4-2, 3-1-1 A-SUN) in its final home A-SUN match of the season. The teams are slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Thursday, Oct. 17. The match will be a green out and Faculty/Staff VIP Night at the FGCU Soccer Complex.
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