The top-ranked FGCU women's soccer team (9-3-1, 4-0-1 A-SUN) has its sights set on a regular season title as the team heads into the last two weeks of conference play. The Eagles will host UNF (9-4-2, 3-1-1 A-SUN) at the FGCU Soccer Complex in a 7 p.m. match on Thursday, Oct. 17 before hitting the road to take on Liberty (8-6-2, 4-2-0 A-SUN) in a 1 p.m. clash on Sunday, Oct. 20.
Riding an eight-match unbeaten streak, the Eagles are the only program without a loss in A-SUN play entering the weekend. That streak of success has also bolstered FGCU in the NCAA RPI ranking with the Eagles leading the league with a No. 72 RPI with the next best A-SUN team, North Florida, checking in at No. 109.
Prior to the start of Thursday's match, members of the women's soccer team will celebrate Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night by recognizing members of the FGCU community specifically invited by the players for their positive impact.
FGCU, UNF and Liberty are at the top of the current league standings. The Green and Blue are first in the rankings, while the Flames check in at second and the Ospreys are tied for third with reigning A-SUN champ Lipscomb.
The Eagles have been dominant at the Nest throughout program history highlighted by a 79-17-8 record over the past 10 seasons. This year, the team is 8-1-0 at home, which is the best home mark since 2014 when the Green and Blue went 11-1-0.
The Green and Blue:
On Monday, senior keeper Melissa Weck earned A-SUN Defensive Player of the Week honors for the sixth time in her career. Weck (9-3-1), who was also selected earlier this season, posted back-to-back shutouts in the Eagles' 2-0 wins over both Kennesaw State (Oct. 10) and NJIT (Oct. 13). She faced 15 shots and made five stops over the two-match stretch, helping bump FGCU to first place in the A-SUN.
Weck paces the league in goals-against average (0.81) and has allowed just 10 goals this season, which ties for the lowest of any A-SUN keeper. She also leads the conference in solo shutouts (six) and wins (nine). Her six Defensive Player of the Week selections are the second-most of any player in conference history; the record currently stands at seven.
Freshman Louise Lillback has established herself as one of FGCU's largest threats up top and leads the team with 18 points (seven goals, four assists). She leads all conference rookies in points, goals and assists.
The Eagles have jumped up to sixth in the most recent United Soccer Coaches South Region poll. As a team, FGCU leads the A-SUN in assists (23), shutouts (seven) and conference goals (11).
UNF at FGCU:
The Eagles hold a 10-1-2 all-time advantage over the Ospreys and have won six of the last seven meetings between the programs. FGCU has never lost to UNF in Fort Myers and has not allowed the team to score since 2012.
The Ospreys dropped a 1-0 decision to Lipscomb (Oct. 13) in their most recent conference match. The Bisons scored in the final four minutes, marking UNF's first loss in A-SUN play.
Junior Thais Reiss leads the team with nine goals and 21 points, which are both good for second in the league. She started the season with a five-match scoring streak, but has not found the back of the net since the team's 1-0 victory over Liberty (Sept. 29).
UNF has posted a strong 5-1-1 record on the road this year. The only match the Ospreys have dropped outside their home stadium was a 2-1 loss at FAU (Sept. 8).
FGCU at Liberty:
Sunday's match will be the fifth in the history between the Eagles and the Flames, which FGCU leads 4-0. In the previous four meetings combined, FGCU has outscored Liberty 7-3. The last time the Eagles traveled to Lynchburg was 2016 and the team claimed a 1-0 victory.
Junior keeper Melody Jayroe paces the A-SUN in saves (86) and has started between the pipes in all 14 of Liberty's matches. She has been scored on 20 times, the second-most in the league, but has posted three shutouts in conference play.
Senior Gabrielle Farrell leads the team with 18 points (eight goals, two assists) and has found the back of the net three times against A-SUN opponents.
Liberty's only two conference losses have come in overtime. The Flames fell 1-0 to both UNF (Sept. 29) and Kennesaw State (Oct. 13).
Overall, Liberty is 5-1-1 within the confines of its home stadium.
A-SUN Standings:
1. FGCU (13 points, 9-3-1, 4-0-1 A-SUN)
2. Liberty (12 points, 8-6-2, 4-2-0 A-SUN)
T-3. UNF (10 points, 9-4-2, 3-1-1 A-SUN)
T-3. Lipscomb (10 points, 9-5-1, 3-1-1 A-SUN)
5. Kennesaw State (9 points, 8-7-0, 3-3-0 A-SUN)
6. NJIT (7 points, 5-4-3, 2-1-1 A-SUN)
7. North Alabama (3 points, 5-9-0, 1-4-0 A-SUN)
T-8. Stetson (1 point, 2-9-2, 0-3-1 A-SUN)
T-8. Jacksonville (1 point, 0-11-3, 0-5-1 A-SUN)
How to Keep Up:
Livestats will be available for both games and will be on livestream. The game against the Ospreys will be streamed on YouTube Live, while the tilt against the Flames will be carried on ESPN+.
Livestats Links:
vs UNF- http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=267061
@ Liberty- http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=264503
Livestream Links:
vs UNF- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWPlmFZxpc1KCiQx90Ei4hg/
@Liberty- https://www.espn.com/watch?id=30aa6129-03df-4be1-abcd-8b8b664360e5
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