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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State women's soccer team battled six-time defending ASUN Conference regular-season champion Florida Gulf Coast even for 76 minutes before the reigning two-time defending conference tournament champions scored a late goal to post a 2-1 victory Friday afternoon at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
 
With the match tied 1-1 in the 77th minute, FGCU (9-4-0, 3-0-0) took its first lead when senior forward Tabby Tindell, the ASUN's all-time leading goal scorer and points leader, settled a ball in traffic in front of the goal and scored the game-winner.
 
The Eagles rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit, scoring twice in the second half as they possessed the ball for most of the period and limited the Owls (7-6-1, 2-2-0) to just one shot attempt over the final 45 minutes.
 
Juniors Ida Hepsoe and Mady Carter had first-half highlights for Kennesaw State as Hepsoe put the Owls on the scoreboard early, scoring in the seventh minute. Carter came up big and helped KSU take a lead into halftime, when she saved a free kick attempt from Tindell in the 37th minute.
 
BENJI BITES
"We executed our game plan and played the kind of game we wanted to," head coach Benji Walton said. "We weren't really looking to have possessions and our plan was to have really good team shape and make our chances count.
 
"Mady Carter had a huge PK save that kept us in the ballgame and we took a lead into halftime which was great," Walton added. "It was just unfortunate that our whole game plan was not to give up a counter and we gave up a counter that tied the game. Florida Gulf Coast is a great team and I'm proud of our fight. I think we know we let one slip away that we shouldn't have."
 
WALTON ON FACING STETSON ON SUNDAY
"Stetson is a tough team and very well coached. I told our team that I know this game stings, but you have to get over it and come our ready to go tomorrow (for training) and ready to play on Sunday."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Hepsoe Quick Strike: The Owls jumped out to a lead early as senior Cassidy Kemp made a nice run and cross into Hepsoe in the box, who converted in the seventh minute for her second career goal and first of the season.
 
Carter's Penalty Kick Save: Junior Mady Carter, making her third start of the season, came up big late in the first as she dove to her left to save a penalty kick from Tabby Tindell in the 37th minute.
 
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
 * Florida Gulf Coast out-shot Kennesaw State, 14-3, including a 6-3 advantage in shots-on-goal.

WHAT'S NEXT
The Owls return to Fifth Third Bank Stadium on Sunday (Oct. 9) when they host Stetson on Senior Day. Kickoff is 1 p.m. (ET).
 
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State soccer news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsSoccer or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
 
Fifth Third Bank is the Official Bank of Kennesaw State Athletics. Fifth Third Bank Stadium, the signature athletics landmark on the Kennesaw State University campus, is a world-class facility that has been recognized as one of the premier multi-use outdoor athletics venues in the country. In the fall of 2015, it become the official home of Owls football team and is home to Owls soccer and lacrosse as well.