Fast starts for first-year Florida Gulf Coast programs - SoccerAmerica.com
The FGCU women opened play in Division I with two impressive victories. Courtesy of FGCUAthletics.com
Date Posted: 9/6/2007
HOW ABOUT THIS FOR YOUR first-year Division I program's inaugural weekend: You open with a 10-0 and then turn around two days later and win, 3-2, in overtime to capture your first tournament.
That's what happened to the Florida Gulf Coast women who beat Alabama State, 10-0, to kick off their inaugural season before 1,026 fans at the Embassy Suites Kick-Off Classic last Friday night in Ft. Myers, Fla.
Two days later, FGCU beat FIU, 3-2, on an overtime goal by freshman Lindsay Haw, the tournament MVP, to capture the tournament title.
The FGCU men's team -- the first from-scratch Division I men's program to be launched since 2000 -- didn't do too badly itself. It won the opening game of its inaugural season by defeating Coastal Carolina, 3-2, at the CCU/Adidas Invitational.
Junior transfer Courtney Eppleman (Jacksonville) let FGCU with five goals against Alabama State.
