LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women's soccer team leveled up with a 2-1 win over the Atlantic Sun Conference's current No. 1 team Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday afternoon at Lexington Sporting Club.
Graduate midfielder
Kylie Fitzgerald notched her first goal of the 2024 campaign in the 81st minute to seal the victory for the Colonels. Sophomore winger
Paula Herranz scored the equalizing goal in the 23rd, just 15 second after FGCU scored the opening goal off a penalty in the box.
With the win, EKU (5-5-1, 2-1-0 ASUN) has now won consecutive ASUN matches and returns to .500 on the season.
Both of EKU's goals on Thursday were assisted, freshman forward
Ella Grode found her third of the season and freshman forward
Lauren Link recorded her second of the season.
Herranz and
Maddy Murphy led the Colonels with two shots on goal, EKU and FGCU ended with 13 shots apiece.
FGCU (3-5-1, 2-1-0 ASUN) opened Thursday's match with a goal in the 23rd as Erika Zschuppe was fouled just inside the 18-yard box. She used her right boot to strike the penalty kick off of
Marah Krick's gloves to find the back of the netting.
EKU found its equalizer just 15 seconds from the sound of the whistle as Grode charged downfield to find a waiting Herranz, using her left boot to send an un-savable ball over Olivia Molina's frame.
The Colonels and Eagles went into the halftime break at a one-one standoff, despite two FGCU close attempts in the final four minutes of the half.
After the break, EKU flipped the game and controlled the second period, eventually out-shooting FGCU, 8-3, over the period.
Fitzgerald found EKU's advantage in the 81st, striking a through-ball from Link just past a diving Molina.
EKU would hold off the Eagles in the final nine minutes of action to secure the 2-1 result. Thursday's victory marked the first win in program history over FGCU, who has won back-to-back ASUN Championships.
The Colonels return to action on Sunday back at Lexington Sporting Club against Stetson at Noon EST.
