Boca Raton, FL - Florida Atlantic University’s women’s soccer team is striving to get in the win-column for the first time in this young season when it participates in Florida Gulf Coast University’s (FGCU) Embassy Suites Classic this weekend in Fort Myers. 

The Owls (0-1) will be matched up against Illinois State University (1-0-1) on Friday, August 24, at 5 p.m. before facing the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (0-1) on Sunday, August 26, at 10 a.m.

FAU suffered a hard-fought double-overtime 1-0 loss in its season opener when Jacksonville University scored a goal with just over one minute remaining in extra playing time.

Senior goalkeeper Ashley Lantes made seven saves in net.  The Clermont, Fla. native ranks second in program history with 252 career saves.  Offensively, freshman midfielder Claire Emslie tallied a team-high four shots in her collegiate debut.  Junior midfielder Marisa Russo recorded two shots, while five other players had one shot each.

Illinois State opened the season with a 2-1 victory at Southeast Missouri State on Friday, August 17 before tying the University of Illinois 1-1 on the Redbirds’ home field on Sunday, August 19.  Meanwhile, Green Bay suffered a 2-0 loss to South Dakota State University in its season opener on Friday, August 17.

The FGCU Classic is the first of back-to-back weekend tournaments for the Owls.  They will also play Northern Arizona University and UNLV in the Lady Rebels Classic in Las Vegas from Friday, August 31 to Sunday, September 2.