FGCU WSOC vs UNF Recap

Senior Evdokia Popadinova pulled a rabbit out of the hat as the FGCU women's soccer team (10-3-1, 5-0-1 A-SUN) shutout UNF (9-5-2, 3-2-1) 1-0 in double overtime. With the win, the Eagles are now 12-1-1 against the Ospreys and have moved to a strong chance of getting the #1 or #2 seed in the A-SUN.

"That was the first golden goal we've had in a long time, so that was a special moment for our team," head coach Jim Blankenship said. "Weck made a clutch save in overtime to keep us in it and she always comes through for us. Special players made special plays and obviously those two (Popadinova and Weck) got it done for us when we needed it the most."

"What a game to be a part of. Had all the intensity of post season play. We need to play in games like this to learn how to win games like this," said UNF head coach Eric Faulconer. "FGCU is the premier program in our conference and that is where we want to be. Credit to them for doing what they needed to do to win tonight. Our players have left it on the field for the second game in a row and unfortunately we haven't made the one play needed to get the desired result. Eventually, we need to learn how to create that margin of difference. I believe it's coming. I am gutted for them. They gave me everything I could ask of them and more. We have two big games left and we need to get points. We have a week to recover and prepare. We are looking forward to the challenge."

For starting goalkeepers, Blakenship sent senior Melissa Weck to the post while Faulconer sent redshirt junior Rhiannon Conelley to counter.

In the first six minutes of the first half, the Eagles attempted the first two shots from Popadinova and classmate Lindsey Patton in no success before senior Marjorie Boilesen tried it herself to no avail 10 minutes later. The Ospreys didn't take their first shots of the first half until near of the first half off the feet of  Emma Voigt and Devyn Encalada before the first half ended.

Heading into the second half, things started to get a little too aggressive on both sides of the match six minutes in after two yellow cards were issued to UNF from Leah Ferlin and Lisa Cedeno. A yellow card was also issued to Boilesen.

Even after the yellow cards, both teams continued to be aggressive while Weck and Conelley continued to prevent the goals from occurring all the end of the second half that led to overtime and the golden goal rule going into effect.

In the first overtime, UNF would get two shots off from Thais Reiss but to avail as Weck continued to stop UNF and send it into double overtime.

Three minutes into the second overtime, the Eagles managed to pull it together as Popadinova put a header into the top left corner for her eighth goal of the season and game winner with assists from Boilesen and sophomore Kara Kyramarios. Popadinova's goal was also her 22nd in her career as she ties with Paulina Speckmaier (22, 2013-16) for fifth all-time.

For Boilesen and Kyramarios, it was each their fourth of the season while for Boilesen it was her 19th of her career as she passed Melissa Arnold (18, 2011-14) and tied Ally Kasun (19, 2012-15) for sixth all-time.

Weck would earn her seventh shutout of the season and her 34.4th in her career after playing 103:21 minutes with three saves. Weck is now at 10-3-1 on the year.

Conelley would be dubbed with the loss after giving up the lone goal with four saves. Conelley is now at 7-5-1 on the year.

A-SUN Standings:
1. FGCU (16 points, 10-3-1, 5-0-1 A-SUN)
2. Liberty (12 points, 8-6-2, 4-2-0 A-SUN)
T-3. UNF (10 points, 9-5-2, 3-2-1 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)

Up Next:
The Eagles will hit the road to take on second-place Liberty (8-6-2, 4-2-0 A-SUN) in Lynchburg, Va. on Sunday, Oct. 20. The match at Osborne Stadium is set for a 1 p.m. kick-off and will be the fifth meeting in the history between the programs, which the Eagles lead 4-0.