FORT MEYERS, Fla. (Oct. 11, 2013) – The ETSU women’s soccer team struck first, with sophomore Hannah Short (Bristol, England) scoring a 37^th-minute goal, but the Buccaneers were unable to hold the lead, falling on the road to first-place Florida Gulf Coast, 2-1.

Short’s go-ahead goal, her fourth of the season, came off a corner kick from senior Samantha Kron (Paradise Valley, Ariz.). Short’s four scores rank her behind only Sarah Zadrazil (St. Gilgen, Austria) and Kristi Davis (Edmond, Okla.) for most goals by an ETSU player.

Just before halftime, FGCU’s Emma Blackwell scored an unusual goal, blasting a ball from the 45-yard line and over the head of ETSU goalkeeper Jasmine Elliott (Preston, England). With an FGCU player charging the goal, the ball was able to one-hop over Elliott’s head, tying the game at 1-1.

Paulina Speckmaier gave the Eagles (9-3-2, 4-0-1) the eventual game-winning goal on a penalty kick in the 77^th minute.

“FGCU played well—credit to them,” ETSU head coach Adam Sayers said. “Their movement and speed of play is impressive, so our defensive work required a lot of concentration and coordination as well as physical work and our girls did well.”

The Bucs (6-6-1, 2-2-0) were outshot 26-10 in the match; however 18 of FGCU’s shots came before halftime.

“The girls stuck to the game plan, and it worked,” Sayers said. “We were dangerous on the counter attack, and created some good chances.”

Elliott corralled seven saves for ETSU.

Friday’s setback marked the first time in four contests that Zadrazil was held without a point.

ETSU will look to rebound when it visits Stetson Sunday, Oct. 13 at 1:00 p.m. 

STETSON – Sunday, Oct. 13 at 1pm - LIVE STATS - VIDEO

• The Hatters (5-6-2, 3-1-1) are coming off a commanding 4-1 win over USC Upstate Friday, Oct. 11.
• Stetson is playing well above preseason expectations, having been projected to finish ninth in the Atlantic Sun preseason poll.
• Stetson ranks last in the A-Sun for goals against average, allowing 1.914 goals per contest.
• ETSU is 7-2-0 all-time versus Stetson, having won six of its last seven match-ups with the Hatters.
• The Hatters are 2-2-0 at home on the year.

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