MIAMI, Fla. – A second half goal by Tabby Tindell was once again the difference for the FGCU women's soccer team in a 1-0 victory over Miami Thursday night. The 1-0 win marked the second victory over Miami in program history and with the win, FGCU is now 3-3 on the season while Miami falls to 5-2.

"It was a phenomenal win," said head coach Jim Blankenship. "It was a great performance and a great result on the road. We really played well and I'm pleased with the progression as we go. Each week we seem to be getting better and better. We beat a very good team that's having a really good year. They're very dynamic and dangerous and we did a great job keeping them at bay. It was a really strong performance by the backline and (Melissa) Weck. It was a complete team performance."

FGCU won its second-ever match over Miami. Both wins for FGCU in the series were in Coral Gables with the first coming in 2014. Tindell (Ocala, Fla./Trinity Catholic HS) scored the winner in 2014 and did so again in the latest win for the Green and Blue, heading home a cross from Ali Rogers (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) for her second goal of the season and 54th of her career. Tindell's goal ended a shutout streak of 339 minutes for the Hurricanes and 319 minutes for their goalkeeper, Phallon Tullis-Joyce. Miami entered the match as the No. 6 offense nationally in goals per game (3.33) but the Eagles stifled the 'Canes, a team that had not been shutout this season. Melissa Weck (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) made four saves, including one late in the match which she tipped onto the crossbar for her third career shutout.

In a fairly even first half, both the Eagles and Hurricanes had chances but neither would find the net. FGCU controlled the tempo and the bulk of possession early in the match but it was Miami who had the first opportunity in the 9th minute. The Hurricanes earned consecutive corners, with the first resulting in a scramble in front of net and a clearance for a second corner, which was cleared away. FGCU would earn a corner just two minutes later but it would also not result in a dangerous opportunity.

Tindell got going in the 13th minute, finding space behind the Hurricane defense. The senior put a shot toward goal, but it was blocked by a defender and back off of her for a goal kick. Three minutes later, Emilie Olsen (Frekhaug, Norway/Tertnes VGS) gathered the ball at the top of the box and curled a shot toward goal, but it was saved by Tullis-Joyce.

The Eagles continued to press forward, earning a corner in the 22nd minute of play. The corner was cleared and nearly led to a counter by the Hurricanes but play was slowed by the Eagles as Miami gradually began to apply the majority of the pressure. The 'Canes most dangerous chances came off set pieces in the first half, as both of Weck's saves in the opening 45 minutes were a result of those situations.

The Green and Blue had the better of play to end the half, earning two corners during the final five minutes. The first of which came off a Tindell shot that went wide of goal but was tipped for safety by the Miami goalkeeper. On the ensuing corner, Paulina Speckmaier (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep/Florida) sent a perfect cross into the box toward the far post. Unfortunately for FGCU, the ball was not redirected toward goal. On the second corner with a minute remaining, Hudson put a header on goal which was blocked away and cleared. The ball then landed at the feet of Ashley Parks (St. Louis, Mo./Lafayette HS) who tested the 'keeper from distance but could not score the first goal of the match.

Following an early corner for the Hurricanes in the second half, the Eagles again began to control the tempo, eventually finding the opener. Minutes after having a shot blocked, Tindell was on the other end of a Rogers cross after the midfielder beat her defender down the line. Rogers found Tindell, who was making a run to the far post and the forward headed it smartly back across goal to put FGCU up 1-0, ending Miami's shutout streak in the process.

Speckmaier tested Miami in the 67th minute but had her shot miss high. Looking for a second goal, Nikki Hudson (Baltimore, Md./Roland Park County School/Rutgers) found herself in a pocket of space and took a shot from 20 yards out. Tullis-Joyce denied Hudson, tipping the shot over the bar to keep the match at 1-0. On the ensuring corner, Lindsey Patton (Jacksonville, Fla./Oakleaf HS) found the ball at her feet and the freshman flicked the ball toward goal but the Hurricane goalkeeper made a diving save to give FGCU another corner.

While the second corner did not result in anything dangerous for FGCU, the Eagles limited the time Miami spent in FGCU's defensive third. With 20 minutes remaining in the match, the hosts began to increase their urgency.

In the 72nd minute, the Hurricanes had a shot blocked before a diving header was saved by Weck. The freshman made a less stressful save a few minutes later on a long-distance effort to keep the Eagles in front 1-0.

The final 15 minutes produced the best chance of the evening for Miami. In the 88th minute, Miami's Kristina Fisher took one final shot but Weck saved it, tipping it onto the crossbar. The rebound was cleared away allowing the Eagles to finish off the remaining two minutes of the match.

FGCU outshot Miami 12-11 and held a 7-4 edge in corners.

UP NEXT
The Eagles return home to face UCF Sunday at 1 p.m. at the FGCU Soccer Complex.

COACH JIM BLANKENSHIP
A veteran of over two decades in collegiate coaching, head coach Jim Blankenship, who was named the ASUN Coach of the Year in 2012, 2013, 2014 and now 2015, has built FGCU women's soccer into a yearly contender in the Atlantic Sun Conference and a rising program in the South Region in just nine seasons. Blankenship started the program in 2007 and has since guided the Eagles to nine double-digit win seasons, culminating with Atlantic Sun Regular Season Championships in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. In 2011 and 2012 he also led the Eagles to back-to-back ASUN tournament championships and became the first team in the history of the university to make it to the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles went on to win the 2014 ASUN tournament and host the first NCAA Championship event on campus. The Eagles earned their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance with the 2015 ASUN Tournament Championship and won their first NCAA game at USF in 2015, while finishing 24th in the nation. Blankenship has guided FGCU to a 117-44-19 (70.7 W%) overall record through the first ten seasons of the program's existence, including a 60-9-10 (76.2 W%) mark in the ASUN. Blankenship's impressive career record of 357-115-30 (74.3 W%) over 25 seasons has come while leading FGCU, the University of Miami, Lynn University and St. Thomas University.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For constant, news, photos, videos and updates you can follow the women's soccer team on Twitter @FGCU_WSoccer, on Instagram @FGCU_WSoccer or on Facebook: Facebook.com/FGCUWSoccer. You can also find FGCU athletics on YouTube by visiting YouTube.com/FGCUEagles.
 
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.