FGCU Places Four on NSCAA All-Region Teams

November 30, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After securing the program's seventh-straight regular season title and fifth NCAA Tournament berth in only six seasons of eligibility, the FGCU women's soccer team placed a program-best four players on the NSCAA All-Southeast Region teams. Among the four honorees were another program-best two First Team selections, Tabby Tindell and Paulina Speckmaier.

Six years after KC Correllus earned First Team NSCAA All-South Region accolades, Tindell (Ocala, Fla./Trinity Catholic HS) and Speckmaier (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep/Florida) garner First Team All-Southeast Region honors for FGCU. In addition, Ashley Parks (St. Louis, Mo./Lafayette HS) was awarded with a Second Team selection while Ali Rogers (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) was selected to the Third Team. The four honorees are the most in program history, surpassing the total from 2014 when FGCU placed three players on the All-Southeast Region teams.

"This a tremendous honor for these four ladies," said head coach Jim Blankenship. "I can't think of four more deserving players to be placed among the best in the region. They've done so much for this program, not only this year but during their careers, so for them to gain some recognition beyond the conference-level is fantastic."

Competing against the likes of 2016 College Cup participant North Carolina, fellow tournament participants Virginia, Florida State, Clemson, and Duke along with additional ACC programs such as Wake Forest and Boston College, the Eagles placed the maximum number of field players on the All-Region teams – a feat only Florida State accomplished in the region.

Tindell earns her third career NSCAA All-Region honor after securing Second Team honors in both 2014 and 2015. The ASUN Conference's all-time leader in goals scored (66) and points (162) capped her career with her third ASUN Player of the Year award and FGCU's goals, points, and assists record (30). With 14 goals and eight assists this season, Tindell sits in the top 20 nationally in total goals, total points, points per game (1.89), goals per game (.74), and game-winning goals (8). The senior's eight match-winners is currently good for third in the country.

Speckamier ends her career with her first NSCAA honor, joining Tindell on the First Team. With three goals and seven assists on the year, the midfielder cemented herself in FGCU's record book in several categories including goals (22), assists (22) and points (66). After missing the first two matches of the season, the senior logged more than 1500 minutes to help FGCU earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. In addition to her NSCAA honors, Speckmaier also earned First Team All-ASUN accolades.

Parks bounced back from an injury last season to replace the 2015 ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, Emma Blackwell. While Parks did not collect a point this season, the St. Louis-native more than filled in for the graduated Blackwell while playing alongside true-freshman Lindsey Patton (Jacksonville, Fla./Oakleaf HS) and in front of another true-freshman Melissa Weck (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS). The centerback helped FGCU allow only 17 goals this season, good for the 47th best goals against average in the country (0.837). As the schedule turned to conference action, the Green and Blue silenced their opposition once again, allowing only four goals – the lowest in the ASUN and four goals fewer than Lipscomb who finished second in that category. FGCU's backline helped the Eagles post nine clean sheets, the most in the ASUN.

In her final season in Fort Myers, Rogers saved her best for last posting a career year with five goals and three assists to earn Third Team recognition. The redshirt-senior began the year scoring a goal against San Francisco and the winner opposite UC-Davis. Rogers matched her career-high late in the year, leveling a crucial road match against Kennesaw State, a game FGCU would go on to win en route to its seventh-straight ASUN regular season title. The midfielder also had two assists to her name, both finding Tindell for a header. The first assist came on the road, a 1-0 win over Miami and the second on Senior Night against Jacksonville. Rogers made her mark again during the ASUN Championship, scoring twice against Lipscomb to earn ASUN Tournament MVP honors while sending FGCU to its fifth NCAA appearance.

FGCU finished the year 14-5-1, with a 6-0-1 record in conference action. After earning a third-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, the Eagles were tasked with a difficult draw, the #9 Gators. FGCU, battling injury, withstood a vaunted Florida attack using a disciplined defense and stellar goalkeeping. Ultimately, though, the Gators prevailed 3-0, ending yet another memorable season.

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