FORT MYERS, Fla. – Sophomore Julia Roddar’s (Falun, Sweden/Shattuck-St. Mary’s Academy/Wisconsin) goal in the 65^th minute of the second half proved to be the difference as the FGCU women’s soccer team posted its eighth shutout of the season en route to a critical 1-0 Atlantic Sun victory over Kennesaw State on Friday night at the FGCU Soccer Complex.

The win not only moves the Eagles (11-3-3) into sole possession of second place in the A-Sun standings with 19 points (6-1-1), but also keeps their hopes at three-peating as regular season champs alive when they host first place Mercer (6-0-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The winner of Sunday’s 2011 A-Sun Tournament Championship rematch will clinch the regular season crown and earn the No. 1 seed and host duties of the 2012 A-Sun Tournament semifinals and championship. If the two teams tie, Mercer would take home the regular season crown, while the Green and Blue would get a bye into the semifinals as the No. 2 seed.

FGCU also lengthened its home A-Sun unbeaten streak to 19 games (16-0-3), including a current eight-game win streak during that span. Kennesaw State, who entered in a tie for second place with FGCU, falls to 9-7-1 overall and 5-2-1 in the A-Sun, sitting in a tie for third with North Florida (5-2-1) at 16 points.

“I’m pleased with the result and it feels good to get the win,” said head coach Jim Blankenship. “The team played absolutely phenomenal tonight against a really good Kennesaw State side. It was a tight battle through the first half and we were able to get the goal by Roddar in the second half. It was an all-around good performance from the girls.”

Prior to the game, FGCU honored its five-member senior class, which, fittingly, posted the 40^th shutout during their four years against the Owls. Freshman keeper Brittany Brown (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena HS) made two stops on the night and earned her sixth shutout this year, which ranks first in the A-Sun.

In the 65^th minute, senior Ashley Ciesielczyk (Oregon, Ohio/Clay HS) received a pass from freshman Shea Rhoney (Lithia, Fla./Newsome HS) on the right side. Ciesielczyk made a pass inside the box to Roddar, who beat the keeper on the left. A transfer from Wisconsin, the goal was Roddar’s first since joining the Green and Blue.

The assist is Ciesielczyk’s 28^th of her career, which lengthens her program record and puts her into a tie for seventh all-time in A-Sun history. The assist for Rhoney was her fifth this season and gives her 17 points, which is tied for second on the team.

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