FORT MYERS, Fla. – Ally Kasun scored two goals to give the Florida Gulf Coast University women's soccer team a 2-0 victory over Northern Kentucky University on Friday evening in Atlantic Sun Conference action at the FGCU Soccer Complex.
Kasun opened the scoring for FGCU, which improved to 11-3 overall and 4-0 in the Atlantic Sun to sit atop the conference standings, late in the first half. Tabby Tindell cut through the middle of the field in the 36th minute and passed the ball to Kasun, who sent a shot from 25 yards out and found the top-right corner of the net past NKU goalkeeper
Tanner Ruberg for her first goal of the season.
Her second goal of the game came early in the second half. Melissa Arnold served a corner kick into the goal box area, and Kasun headed the ball across the goal line for a 2-0 FGCU lead in the 50th minute, and that scored would stand until the end of the game.
Sami Rutowski had the chance to put NKU, which fell to 4-6-3 on the year and 0-3-1 in the conference, on the board in the fourth minute of the game. Following an Eagles foul, she was awarded a penalty kick, but FGCU goalkeeper Brittany Brown made the stop to keep the game scoreless.
"We were really well-prepared tonight," NKU head coach
Bob Sheehan said. "I thought we came out really strong against an excellent Florida Gulf Coast team, and we created several chances throughout the game.
Sami Rutowski did really well and drew an early penalty kick opportunity, and the keeper came up big and made a great save. It would have been nice to go up 1-0 that early, but it just didn't work out that way.
"Florida Gulf Coast is an outstanding team. They have played some of the top teams in the country this season, and they have done really well. We give credit to Florida Gulf Coast tonight."
FGCU recorded 27 shot attempts, placing 11 on target, and 16 corner kicks against the Norse, who took three shots and two corner kicks of their own.
Paulina Speckmaier paced the Eagles offense, taking seven shots, three of which were on goal, while Tindell finished with six shots and placed two attempts on goal. Brown played all 90 minutes in goal for FGCU and recorded two saves.
In addition to Rutowski's penalty kick,
Jessica Frey and
Chrissy Spears were each able to get one shot off against a strong Eagles defense. Frey's first-half shot attempt sailed over the goal and out of bounds, while Brown turned Spears' shot away in the second half.
Ruberg and
Brooke Schocker combined for time in goal for NKU, which is now 0-3 all-time against FGCU. Ruberg added six saves to her season total and allowed both goals, while Schocker turned away three Eagles attempts.
NKU continues its weekend in the Sunshine State as the Norse travel north to DeLand, Florida, on Sunday to face Stetson. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Links to live stats and the video broadcast are available at NKUNorse.com. Follow @NKUNorseGameDay on Twitter for live updates during games this season as well. For all news pertaining to the NKU women's soccer team, be sure to follow @NKUNorseWSOC on Facebook and Twitter as well.
