The FGCU women's soccer team (8-0-2, 2-0 A-SUN) return home for A-SUN Conference play as they prepare to face new A-SUN member, North Alabama (7-4, 1-0 A-SUN) on Sept. 28 at 7 PM and Lipscomb (6-3-2, 2-0 A-SUN) on Sept. 30 at 1 PM at the FGCU Soccer Complex.
Last Time Out:
After finishing non-conference play 6-0-2 including three big wins against Alabama (4-2), Michigan (3-2) and Ohio State (1-0), the Eagles began A-SUN Conference play on the road in Jacksonville. The Eagles Slaughtered JU 6-0 and clipped UNF 4-0.
Currently, the Eagles are in first place in the standings.
A-SUN LOD:
Once again, the Eagles' offense was led by juniors Evdokia "Evi" Popadinova and Marjorie "Ma" Boilesen aka the A-SUN Legion of Doom (LOD).
Popadinova not only leads the team in goals (8), but she also leads for the most goals in the A-SUN this season. The Bulgarian had one goal in both games against JU and UNF. Popadinova also has six assists for the season including one against JU.
Boilesen is currently tied for second in goals (5), and like Popadinova, the Brazilian also had a goal in both games against JU and UNF. Boilesen also has five assists in her name including one against UNF.
Unexpected Wild Card Players:
Two players that have been impressive lately for the Eagles are freshmen Kara Kyramarios and Alyssa Abbondandolo.
After an impressive outing in practice, Kyramarios has been in good spirits in the starting lineup. The Titusville native, who enrolled at FGCU spring 2018, has started four of her seven games. In her first start against FIU, Kyramarios scored her first collegiate goal not even five minutes into the first half. In the game against JU, Kyramarios had an assist for the game.
Unexpectedly, Abbondandolo has played strongly off the bench. The Cape Coral native has two goals including one against UNF in the last 20 minutes of the second half.
A New Hope:
Another player that is off to a fresh start is sophomore Hope Van Wagner. After scoring her first goal in the opener against Georgia Southern, Van Wagner was trying to find her rhythm, and miraculously it showed up in Jacksonville against JU as she scored two goals in the 6-0 win.
The Avon, Indiana native currently has three goals while logging in 505 minutes.
(Holly)wood Impact:
Along with the A-SUN Legion of Doom, senior midfielder Holly Fritz has made impact on her own. The Cape Coral native who transferred from Florida State last season is currently is tied for second on team in goals with Boilesen (5) and has two assists.
Fritz was recently named one of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award. The CLASS Award is an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, in which focuses on the total student-athlete, encouraging students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. Candidates are compared using four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character, and competition.
"Holly has just about every good quality you can say about a person" head coach Jim Blankenship said. "She is extremely driven and self-motivated. She wants to be the best at everything and is able to bring that quality out of her teammates as well so that they can do it together. She is a perfectionist in every piece of her life. She is a 4.0 student, makes sure every touch at practice is with a purpose, and is always in the right place on the field during games. She is our team captain, our leader, the person that everyone goes to when they need something. Despite having a fully loaded plate herself, she is quite accommodating in that role, always taking time to help a teammate whether that be on the field or off the field."
In addition, Fritz was named FGCU Athletics Scholar-Athlete of the Month.
"I am proud of her, this is absolutely everything that she stands for on and off the field," said Blankenship. "It means a lot to our program for her to receive this, it represents us well since all of our players know it is student first before athlete."
Weck City:
Junior Melissa Weck (8-0-2) leads the way in the box. Weck has allowed only six goals this season, but in reality, it was four because own goals should not count. Weck also has 36 saves and six shutouts in her name. In the series in Jacksonville, Weck combined for four saves against JU and UNF.
Weck remains third all-time in career shutouts and is five away from surpassing Stephanie Powers (31, 2008-11) for second all-time. Weck has 24.3 shutouts in her career.
Deep Defense:
Along with Weck, the defense has been on top of their game thanks to senior Camille Knudstrup, juniors Opal Curless and Lindsey Patton and sophomore Zoey Spitzer. The Squad has allowed only four goals to go through.
This week Patton, who played both games in her hometown in Jacksonville, was named A-SUN Defensive Player of the Week, the third in her career. Patton currently has two goals, both of which came in the series in Jacksonville.
"We are happy for Lindsey" head coach Jim Blankenship said. "She has been stellar in the back line for us for a long time. It is well-deserved recognition. For her to earn this after playing two games in her hometown this weekend is phenomenal as well."
Elite Nine:
Nine teams in the nation are left without a loss:
FGCU, #1 Stanford (8-0-1), #2 USC (8-0-1), #7 Georgetown (8-0-2), #8 Texas (9-0-2), #9 Washington State (8-0), #18 Colorado (9-0-1), Boston College (10-0), and UC Riverside (9-0-1). FGCU, Georgetown and UC Riverside are the only non-Power 5 Conference teams left without a loss.
To be honest, I thought it eight because I didn't even know that UC Riverside was one of the teams that had no losses. It threw me off guard for some strange reason.
Stanford (vs UCLA), USC (@ California), Georgetown (vs Depaul), Washington State (vs Oregon State), Colorado (@ Arizona State) and #11 Boston College (@ Wake Forest) will play on Sept. 27 in their season matchups. Texas (vs Oklahoma State) will play on Sept. 28 an UC Riverside (@Cal State Fullerton) will play on Sept. 30.
Polls:
Two weeks ago, the Eagles received 37 points in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, but then dropped to two after the draw against Loyola Chicago. They now have three points in receiving votes in the poll.
In the United Soccer Coaches South Region Poll, the Eagles are ranked #5 in the nation.
The Eagles remain at #25 in this week's Hero Sports poll following the two wins, but in the NCAA RPI, the Eagles surprisingly dropped six spots to #47, again, despite two wins by a combined 10-0 score.
A-SUN vs. Power 5:
The final results of the A-SUN vs Power 5 schools:
FGCU vs Alabama (W: 4-2), Michigan (W: 3-2), Ohio State (W: 1-0) 3-0
Lipscomb vs Miami (L:1-0), Kentucky (W: 1-0) 1-1
JU vs RV Vanderbilt (L: 3-0), Pittsburgh (L: 2-1), Miami (T: 1-1 2OT) 0-2-1
UNF: N/A
Stetson vs LSU (L: 2-0), Miami (T: 1-1 2OT), 0-1-1
North Alabama vs RV Vanderbilt (L:4-0) 0-1
Kennesaw State vs Alabama (L: 6-0), Georgia (W: 2-1) 1-1
NJIT: N/A
Liberty vs LSU (L:1-0), #4 Virginia (L: 6-0), Clemson (L: 5-0) 0-3
Scouting UNA:
Friday marks the first all-time matchup between FGCU and North Alabama. As announced on December 8, 2016, North Alabama joined the A-SUN after transferring from the NCAA DII Gulf South Conference bringing all 13 sports with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Big South Conference as an independent team.
Since UNA has moved from NCAA DII to DI, they will not be eligible to participate in any of the national tournaments, but they will be eligible to participate in the conference tournaments.
All of the sports for UNA, including the football team, will comply to the four-year transitional period to be eligible as a full time member (until the 2022-23 season).
The Lions are coming off of winning their opening game at home against Kennesaw State by a score of 2-1. In their non-conference 6-4 with their best outing against Jackson State where the Lions won 7-1.
Offensively, junior Shelby Wall and senior Kylie Huey are the main factors of scoring. Wall currently leads the team in goals (6) while Huey is second (5). In the opening conference game, Wall scored on of the two goals.
For goalkeepers, senior Shelby Thornton (6-3) has allowed 10 goals and has 32 saves. Against Kennesaw, Thornton gave up one goal and had seven saves.
Currently, the Lions sit in a four-way tie for second place with Lipscomb*, Kennesaw and NJIT (*side note: subject to change for Lipscomb against Stetson.)
Scouting Lipscomb:
The Lady Bison finished their non-conference season 5-3-2 including a 2-1 win over Power 5 Kentucky.
The Lady Bison are coming off of opening conference on the road as they defeated NJIT 5-1 and a 2-0 win at Stetson.
Offensively, junior Olivia Doak leads the Lady Bison with five goals and five assists. In the game against NJIT, Doak scored a goal and added an assist.
Redshirt senior Kate Mason has started all 11 matches and has given up 12 goals with 48 saves. Against NJIT, Mason gave up one goal and had seven saves.
Series History:
Overall, the Eagles are 10-1-3 against the Lady Bison. Last season, the Lady Bison defeated FGCU 1-0 at the FGCU Soccer Complex on Sept. 29, 2017 on a penalty shot for their lone win.
The Eagles returned the favor by defeating the Lady Bison 3-2 in double overtime in the A-SUN Women's Soccer Championship Finals to punch their ticket to the 2017 NCAA National Tournament. In fact, the Eagles have won three-straight years against Lipscomb in the A-SUN Women's Soccer Championship Finals (2015 5-0; 2016 2-0; 2017 3-2).
A-SUN Standings:
1. FGCU 6 (2-0-0) 8-0-2
2. Kennesaw State 3 (1-1-0) 8-3-1
3. NJIT 3 (1-1-0) 7-3-1
4. North Alabama 3 (1-0-0) 7-4-0
5. Lipscomb 3 (1-0-0) 6-3-2
6. Jacksonville 3 (1-1-0) 1-8-1
7. North Florida 1 (0-1-1) 5-4-1
8. Stetson 1 (0-1-1) 3-5-3
9. Liberty 0 (0-2-0) 1-9-0
How to Keep Up:
Both games will have livestats available and will air on Facebook Live on the FGCU women's soccer Facebook page.
Fans can also keep up with the teams on Twitter:
FGCU: @FGCU_WSoccer
North Alabama: @UNASoccer
Lipscomb: @LipscombWSOC
Promotions:
In the game against North Alabama, it is ruled as a greenout, so marketing is encouraging students and fans to wear green to the game.
In the game against Lipscomb, it is ruled as a blueout, and like the greenout, marketing is encouraging students and fans to wear blue to the game.
Other promotions are as listed:
1. Poster Signing: Stay after the game to have your poster signed by the players (North Alabama)
2. Dirty Bird Pickup: Students can sign up to be Dirty Birds or pick up their gear (both games)
3. Cups For Corners: FGCU cups thrown into the student section for corner kicks (North Alabama)
4. Pink Sales: 2018-19 pink shirts on sale. All proceeds benefit the ACS (both games)
5. Housing Challenge: Housing areas will compete for a winning banner in their hall (North Alabama)
6. Shirts For Shots: T-Shirts thrown out for every FGCU shot on goal (Lipscomb)
7.World Cup Night: International organizations on/off campus recognized at halftime (Lipscomb)
8. Faculty/Staff Appreciation: FGCU faculty and staff will be recognized at halftime (Lipscomb)
9. FGCU Sunglasses: Free FGCU sunglasses given out to the first 100 fans (Lipscomb)
10. Girl Scout Day: Girl Scouts will be recognized at halftime & interact with players postgame (Lipscomb)
11. Feed your Fortitude: Food trucks will be invited to sell at the game (Lipscomb)
Links to Livestats vs UNA: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=229956
Link to Livestats vs Lipscomb: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=229957
Link to livestream vs UNA and Lipscomb: https://www.facebook.com/FGCUWSoccer/
