FGCU Remains Unbeaten in Conference, Downs Stetson, 1-0
DELAND, Fla. – The Florida Gulf Coast University women's soccer team received a goal early in the second half from senior Kat Hunter (Safety Harbor, Fla./American Heritage-Delay HS) to take down Atlantic Sun foe Stetson, 1-0, on Saturday night at the Stetson Soccer Complex.
With the victory against Stetson, head coach Jim Blankenship earned his 50th win in five seasons with the Green and Blue.
The Eagles earned their fourth straight and sixth shutout of the year to improve to 7-3-2 overall and 2-0-1 in the A-Sun. FGCU has an unbeaten streak of 16 games (13-0-3) in conference action that dates back to the end of the 2009 campaign.
The Green and Blue scored the game-winning goal in the 54th minute, when junior Brittany Burt (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS/USF) placed a corner kick that found senior Hunter who headed home her first goal of the season. Burt picked up her second assist of the season.
“It was a great team victory with the defense stepping up big again,” said head coach Jim Blankenship. “I liked the way we were aggressive early and we set the tone. “It was a great goal from Kat (Hunter) off the corner kick and that was the difference.”
FGCU produced a 20-8 shot advantage over the 90 minutes of action, including 8 shots on goal. Senior keeper Stephanie Powers (Seffner, Fla./Armwood HS) made four saves en route to her 25th career shutout and moved into a tie for second all-time in A-Sun history. Powers hasn’t allowed a goal in four straight games, including two double over-time affairs with a streak 422 minutes without allowing a goal.
In the first half, the Eagles took 13 shots with five of them being on goal. Burt came away with two chances on net but Stetson’s goalkeeper Grace Turner was able to come up with both saves in the half.
The Hatters had an opportunity in the 34th minute to take an early lead when Colleen O’Kennedy fired a shot on goal but Powers made the stop.
FGCU returns to action next weekend traveling to Georgia for two A-Sun conference games against Mercer on Friday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. and Kennesaw State on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 1 p.m.
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