Post Game Interview

NEWARK, NJ—Defending Atlantic Sun Conference women's soccer champion Florida Gulf Coast took over first place in the 2015 standings with an overtime win on Friday night and the Eagles tightened their grip on the top spot two days later with an overpowering 6-0 victory Sunday afternoon at NJIT.
 
FGCU won its first-place showdown 2-1 in overtime at Lipscomb Friday night in Nashville, TN, and came to Newark with a six-match unbeaten streak (5 wins, 1 tie). It took the Eagles until the 20th minute to get their high-octane offense rolling against NJIT, but once Ally Kasun broke the ice at 19:32, they poured in three more goals in less than 20 minutes for a 4-0 halftime lead.
 
Florida Gulf Coast (5-0-1 Atlantic Sun; 10-5-2 overall) added two more goals in the second half. NJIT is 0-6 in its first season as member of the A-Sun and 2-13 overall.
 
If its first season as a member of the A-Sun has been a learning experience for NJIT after playing the last two years as a Division I Independent, Sunday's game vs. Florida Gulf Coast was a master class for the Highlanders.
 
The Eagles have not lost an A-Sun game since October 5, 2012 and they are 22-0-4 in conference regular season games since then. Their ongoing unbeaten streak this season includes the 5-0-1 mark in conference play plus a 2-1 neutral site win over Wake Forest of the powerful Atlantic Coast Conference in early October.
 
With Sunday's 6-0 win against NJIT, the Eagles have outscored their opponents by a combined 35-11, including 17-2 in conference play.
 
Junior Nikki Hudson led Florida Gulf Coast on the day with two goals against NJIT, while four other Eagles scored a goal each. They were: Kasun, Paulina Speckmaier, Lauren Greene, and Shay Jackson.
 
FGCU compiled seven assists in the win, topped by two for Kasun and two for Sarah Lowicki. Camille Knudstrup, Kaitlin Parker, and Tabby Tindell all got one assist apiece for the winners. Tindell, a junior who became FGCU's all-time leading scorer earlier this year, has 12 goals, 8 assists and 32 points in 15 games this season. She did not increase her career total of 47 goals despite attempting a game-high six shots.
 
Both teams used two goalkeepers, switching at the half. FGCU senior Brittany Brown played the first 45 minutes and was not called upon to make a save and Emily Dolan completed the shutout, making one save in the second 45 minutes of play.
 
NJIT's starting keeper, Samantha Bersett, stopped six shots and was beaten on four in playing the first half. She gave way at halftime to Karen David, who allowed two goals and saved seven.
 
The Highlanders will be off until Saturday at 1 pm when they end their season with an Atlantic Sun home game against Lipscomb. That game on Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium is Senior Day for the Highlanders.