By: North Florida Athletics
KICKOFF - North Florida women's soccer (3-0) hopes to continue their season-opening win streak Saturday at 4 p.m. when the Ospreys kick off ASUN play at FGCU.
PITCH POINTS
- After having a pair of matches canceled for various reasons, Ospreys returned to the pitch posting an impressive 2-1 road victory at The Citadel on Tuesday (Feb. 23)
- In the win, freshman Amanda Hartmann recorded her first career goal, the match winner, on her first collegiate shot attempt
- Senior Thais Reiss extended her hot start to the season, picking up her fourth goal in three matches
- Newcomer Ari Munoz, who scored a pair of goals against FIU, added her first assist of the year while senior Leah Ferlin tallied her first helper of the season as well
- North Florida has produced a pair of ASUN Players of the Week already this season (Thais Reiss | Ari Munoz)
- Osprey's used a pair of goalkeepers in the win with Mercedes Sapp and Rachel Fishkin each playing a half in the pipes | Each keeper recorded three saves
- Match features the ASUN's top three scorers: Reiss (10 pts / 4G, 2A) | FGCU's Lillback (6 pts / 3G) | Munoz (5 pts/ 2G, 1A)
- Reiss & Munoz rank first and third in the ASUN for goals scored
- Reiss also shares the conference lead with 2 assists
- Sapp ranks 2nd in the ASUN for GAA (0.42) and Save Pct (83.3)
- North Florida leads the ASUN in goals and corner kicks | Ospreys are third in shot attempts (FGCU leads the league with 67)
- 3-0 start marks the program's best in the Division I Era (since 2005) | 2006 team was unbeaten thru first 8 contests
- FGCU SERIES: All-time record is 1-12-1 | Last met on Oct. 17, 2019 - FGCU earned the 1-0 win in 2OT | Ospreys are 0-6-1 in Fort Myers | UNF's lone win was a 2-0 decision in Jacksonville on Oct. 5, 2012
- Last season the Ospreys matched the program's Division I era record at 11-6-2
- North Florida finished with 33 goals, ranking second in the ASUN a year ago
- UNF boasted the program record with a 1.11 GAA
- Head coach Eric Faulconer earned his 250th career victory last season | Faulconer led squads have recorded 10+ wins in 17 consecutive seasons
- Ospreys were tabbed to finish 4th in the preseason ASUN poll
- Thais Reiss was picked the preseason ASUN Player of the Year
- All-ASUN Honors in 2019: Thais Reiss and Hollyn Knight (1st team) | Kendra Hoffman and Leah Ferlin (2nd team) | Devyn Encalada (All-Freshman)
SCOUTING REPORT
- FGCU is unbeaten 2-0-2 this season including wins over Utah Valley (1-0) and FIU (3-0) | Eagles were the 2019 ASUN regular season champions
- Three of the Eagle's four matches this season have gone into overtime
- FGCU has yet to play a road match this season
- Eagles have surrendered just one goal in four matches
- Louise Lillback has accounted for 3 of the squad's 5 goals scored and is the only Eagle player with double-digit (21) shot attempts
- Goalkeeper Mia Krusinski owns a 0.22 GAA (Top in ASUN) with 16 saves and three clean sheet performances
- Head coach Jim Blankenship started the FGCU program and has guided the Eagles to a 169-59-27 mark in his 14 years at the helm | Blakenship currently ranks 9th among NCAA DI coaches with 409 career victories
FAULCONER TALES
"Historically, FGCU has been the top program in the ASUN conference and Coach Blakenship has done a tremendous job of sustaining success. Though they graduated several excellent players from their 2019 team, the spring 2021 squad looks as strong as ever. In 2019, we took them to the brink, before falling in double overtime. Though I felt we definitely closed the gap, in the end it was still a loss. We know for our program to take the next step, we have to get a result against a program like Florida Gulf Coast. Obliviously, that is no easy task, but I like our team quite a lot. If we play to our capability, we can play with anyone. I know our team is excited about the opportunity."
-- Head coach Eric Faulconer
UP NEXT
North Florida concludes its current road stretch next Saturday (Mar. 6) against Stetson at 6 p.m.
