The Florida Gulf Coast University women’s soccer team remains unbeaten in the Atlantic Sun Conference after a weekend on the road.
On Friday, Oct. 4, the Eagles faced the Northern Kentucky University Norse and played with a highoffense style with their third-highest number of shots so far this season. The Eagles outshot the Norse 25-8 during the game.
During the 10th minute of play, freshman Tessa Berger and A-Sun named Co-Defender of the Week, knocked one into the net past NKU’s keeper with an assist from Paulina Speckmaier, defending A-Sun Player of the Week.
The teams traded shots until the 40th minute of play, when Shannen Wacker received the ball from Shea Rhoney and put in a second goal, giving the Eagles a 2-0 lead to end the first half. Goalkeeper Brittany Brown and the Eagles’ defensive squad kept the Norse off the board for the entire second half, and the game ended with a third conference win for the Blue and Green.
“I thought we set the tone early and pressed the tempo,” head coach Jim Blankenship said in a prepared statement. “It was a good win on the road that we will enjoy tonight while also shifting our attention to Lipscomb.”
On Sunday afternoon, the Eagles traveled to Lipscomb University to face their fourth conference match-up. In 110 minutes of soccer, the Eagles took a season high 31 shots. Lipscomb only had seven shots by the end of the match.
Lipscomb came out first during the 13th minute, when player Baylee Linnell, assisted by Alesondra Colbert, put one past FGCU keeper Brown. They didn’t hang onto their lead for three minutes. During the 16th minute of play, Tabby Tindell found Julia Roddar, who put a shot into Lipscomb’s net and tied the game.
Through regulation and double overtime, the score remained at 1-1. The Eagles created excellent chances with 13 different players attempting at least one shot. “We had a chance to get three points and came up short,” Blankenship said in a prepared statement.
“We created some great opportunities and had 31 shots, with five hitting a post or crossbar, but that’s soccer.”
The Lady Eagles return home to face East Tennessee State University at the FGCU Soccer Complex at 7 p.m. Friday then will play USC Upstate at 1 p.m. Sunday.