The Lady Toppers’ record improved to 5-6-3 on the season and 3-1-1 in SBC action, while FIU dropped to 3-7-4 on the year (1-4-1 in SBC play).
“We played great defense this entire weekend,” head coach Jason Neidell said. “We didn’t give them many opportunities to even have a chance to score because we stayed focused and stayed in control.”
After a scoreless first half, WKU got on the board when Vanessa Lawson and Jenna Silverberg fed Christi Banas on a header for her seventh goal on the year to put Western up 1-0 in the 57th minute.
The match was put away in the 77th minute when Lawson and Ana Carinena gave the ball to Lauren Wilson for her first goal of the season to put the Lady Toppers up 2-0 and close out the match.
Meredith Goodson played in goal the entire match, collecting five saves and earning the first shutout of her career. WKU outshot the Golden Panthers 10-7, with seven shots on goal. Western was led by Silverberg, who recorded three shots on goal plus an assist, as Alicia Dalby and Banas added two shots each. Florida International’s Janessa Taddei took three shots, all three on goal.
The victory was Neidell’s 50th of his career at Western Kentucky. “I honestly had no idea that the Lady Toppers have won 50 matches since I’ve been here,” Neidell said. “It is pretty exciting, but I hope there is plenty more in the bag.”
The Lady Toppers will finish out the regular season road schedule when they head to Arkansas starting on Friday. They will be in Jonesboro, Ark., Friday (Oct. 21) to take on Arkansas State at 3 p.m. (CDT).
