FGCU returns to the pitch Sunday, travels to face USF – FGCU Athletics

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Florida Gulf Coast University women’s soccer will clash with the South Florida Bulls in Tampa, Florida, on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

FGCU enters Sunday’s matchup 0-1-0. The Eagles dropped their season-opening match against FIU, 2-1. The Atlantic Sun Conference Preseason Player of the Year Ashley Labbe scored FGCU’s first and lone goal of the season.

FGCU is 2-4 all-time against USF dating back to 2014, winning the last matchup 2-0 just a season ago in Fort Myers. Erika Zschuppe and Kendal Gargiula scored for the Eagles, both returning members to the 2024 squad. Sunday marks the fifth time that FGCU has traveled to Tampa and will be seventh all-time meeting between the two programs. FGCU’s lone NCAA Tournament win occurred against USF in Tampa, winning 2-1 back in 2015.

Head coach Jim Blankenship is two wins away from 450 career victories. He entered 2024 as the eighth-winningest active head coach in Division I women’s soccer. FGCU has won the ASUN’s regular season or tournament title in 12 out of the last 14 seasons. Blankenship has won 10 or more matches in 16 of his 17 seasons at FGCU.

USF sprints into the weekend slate now 2-1 overall, defeating Southern 5-0 on Wednesday. USF also downed fellow ASUN member Jacksonville 5-1 but was shutout 5-0 in a season-opening loss versus  No. 1 Florida State. Anna Sutter leads all Bulls with three goals as seven different players have scored for USF this season.

The senior from Switzerland found the back of the net twice Wednesday. USF ranks No. 16 in the country in total shots per game averaging, 23.33 for the No. 24 overall scoring offense. USF was picked to finish second in the American Athletic Conference’s Preseason Coaches Poll.