FGCU WSOC vs JU Recap

 The FGCU women's soccer team (7-3-1, 2-0-1 A-SUN) extended its unbeaten streak to six matches with a 3-0 win over Jacksonville (0-9-3, 0-3-1 A-SUN) Sunday afternoon at the FGCU Soccer Complex. The Eagles remain one of only three unbeaten teams in conference play and are tied for second place.

"We've been talking a lot to the team about the opportunities that we have at home and how important it is to take care of business here," said head coach Jim Blankenship. "If we take care of business here, it will set us up to be in the driver's seat towards the end of the season. I'm happy with today's result and the way the players competed. Now, we move on to the next one."

For starting goalkeepers, Blakenship sent senior Melissa Weck to the crossbars while JU head coach Laura Busby sent senior Kristian Shores to counter.

The Eagles' offense exploded in the first half, as the team held most of its possession within the front third of the pitch. Senior Evdokia Popadinova found the back of the net just over eight minutes into the game, notching her sixth goal of the season.

FGCU continued to fire shots into the box until freshman Louise Lillback scored another goal for the home team with an unassisted shot from 30 yards out. The goal, Lillback's fifth of the season, gave the Eagles a 2-0 lead, which they held into the break.

In the first stanza, the Green and Blue outshot the Dolphins 14-0. Seven of the team's shots were on-frame and FGCU also held a 9-0 edge in corner kicks.

The Eagles maintained intensity in the second half, as sophomore Ashlee Brentlinger tallied back-to-back, on-frame attempts in the opening minutes. After a collision in the box, Popadinova earned a penalty kick opportunity which she converted for her second goal of the game in the 56th minute.

Freshman Emily Mccue checked into the match in the 63rd minute, replacing Weck. Weck (7-3-1) finished her day without facing any shots. She and McCue combined for the team's sixth shutout of the season.

Shores (0-6-2) earned the loss and finished with a tied career-high 11 saves.

Throughout the match, the Eagles outshot the Dolphins 29-0, forcing Jacksonville's keeper to come up with a season-high 11 saves. As of today's win, which had the team's largest margin of victory this season, Popadinova now leads the team with seven goals on the season. In addition, Popadinova's two goals put her at 21 in her career as she tied with Boilesen for sixth all-time in career goals. Both members of the A-SUN Legion of Doom are neck and neck in surpassing Paulina Speckmaier (22, 2013-16) for fifth all-time

Up Next:
FGCU will remain at the Nest to host Kennesaw State (7-6-0, 2-2-0) on Thursday, Oct. 10 at the FGCU Soccer Complex. The match against the Owls is slated for a 7 p.m. kick-off and it will be Cancer Awareness Night. Pink shirts will be on sale for $15 with the benefits going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Within the next few weeks, the team will face off against the top-ranked programs in the conference. The Eagles will take on NJIT (Oct. 13) and UNF (Oct. 17) at the Nest, both of which are tied with FGCU for second in the league. Liberty, currently first in the league, is slated to host the Eagles on Oct. 20.

A-SUN Standings
1. Liberty (7-4-2, 3-1-0)
T-2. UNF (8-3-2, 2-0-1)
T-2. FGCU (7-3-1. 2-0-1)
T-2. NJIT (5-3-3, 2-0-1)
5. Kennesaw State (7-6-0, 2-2-0)
6. Lipscomb (7-5-1, 1-1-1)
7. Stetson (2-8-2, 0-2-1)
8. Jacksonville (0-9-3, 0-3-1)
9. North Alabama (4-8-0, 0-3-0)