MIAMI – The nation’s most prolific offense was shut out for nearly 65 minutes, but a quartet of goals in a 16-minute stretch midway through the 2nd half propelled the #12 FGCU men’s soccer team (8-2-1) to a 2-1 victory at FIU (3-6-1) Tuesday night, extending the longest winning streak in the country to eight in a row.

Miguel Jaime scored the equalizer, Shak Adams tallied the eventual game-winner and an insurance strike, and Rielee Mohsin put the match out of reach as the Eagles continued their dominant form. FGCU entered the match leading the nation in goals in 31, but its four strikes against the Panthers came from a trio who collectively had not scored all year, further establishing the Eagles’ offense as the deepest and most potent in the country.

With eight wins in a row, FGCU has matched the program record for consecutive victories set in 2010 and again in 2012. Additionally, the Green and Blue has now won seven-straight games over non-conference opponents – the longest in program history.

The Eagles have scored at least three goals in six-straight games as the Green and Blue have an incredible 27 goals in those six contests and 31 during their eight-game winning streak. As a comparison, only the 2010 season (35 goals) and 2011 season (34 goals) produced more goals in an entire year than what the Eagles have done during their winning streak.

That streak appeared in jeopardy versus its cross-state foe as FGCU had only put one shot on frame all night until Jaime (Denver, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) – who had attempted that shot in the 4th minute – tied the game in the 64th minute. The junior one-timed an effort off a slightly deflected cross into the FIU box from Justin Gavin (Brooklyn, N.Y./Eastern Florida State College/Treasure Coast HS), and the FGCU offense was off and running.

Jaime started the second goal nearly exactly six minutes later when he took a corner. The ball was played to the back post, sent back into the middle of the box and eventually on to the head of Adams (Antioch, Tenn./Cane Ridge HS), who sent it just inside the right post for his first collegiate goal.

His second came only nine minutes later when the freshman displayed his deft dribbling abilities and navigated his way near the top of the 18. He delivered a right-footed shot back across his body and past the outstretched right arm of diving FIU keeper Arthur Clapot.

The final goal of the onslaught came at exactly the 80th minute. A long ball up the left side of the pitch from near midfield found its way to Miguel Perez (Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay HS). The freshman took a couple touches near the goal line and passed back toward the penalty area where Mohsin (Stuart, Fla./Nichols College/Martin County HS) one-timed an effort between the left post and Clapot.

“We were really flat to start the game and we simply didn’t play a good first 45 minutes,” commented FGCU head coach Bob Butehorn. “Once our guys started to follow the gameplan in the 2nd half things turned around. We thought we could take advantage by being more direct in our attack and getting behind their backline because they wanted to press us. Our guys finally saw the space they had, accessed it and got on a roll after that.”

After a sluggish start, the Eagles finished the contest with a 12-11 shot advantage and a 6-1 edge in corners. Both teams put five shots on target, but the Eagles made the most of theirs while sophomore keeper Sawyer Jackman totaled four saves – tied for the 3rd-most he’s made in a game this season – and moved his record to 7-0-1 on the year.

The first good scoring chance of the evening for either team came in the 4th minute, when Jaime created some space about 25 yards out and curved a left-footed shot targeted for the upper 90. However, Clapot made a leaping save to his right and punched the ball out for an FGCU corner – the first of three in the opening half for the Eagles.

FIU opened the scoring in the 10th minute off a free kick from about 25 yards out. Paul Marie delivered his first goal of the year with an angled shot into the bottom right of the net following an FGCU foul. It marked the first time since Sept. 2 at Loyola Marymount that the Eagles had trailed in a game – a stretch of nearly 650 minutes of game action.

Marie could have added another goal in the 24th minute, but Jackman (Chicago, Ill./St. Charles East HS) made a diving save to his right to keep the deficit at just 1-0.

FGCU’s best chance of the 1st half came just minutes after Jackman’s save when Albert Ruiz (Barcelona, Spain/ CE L’Hospitalet/UE Cornella) played a ball across the top of the box to Arion Sobers-Assue (Miami, Fla./DeMatha Catholic HS), but his right-footed shot just missed to the right.

FIU concluded the opening stanza with a 6-4 shot advantage, including a 4-1 edge with shots on target as Jackman made three saves. However, FGCU flipped the script with its halftime adjustments and cruised to its fifth multiple-goal victory during the winning streak.

FGCU entered the match tied with Pacific for the longest active winning streak in the nation. The Eagles, unbelievably, will further increase their top-ranked offense nationally as they entered the match leading the country in goals per game (3.10) and points per game (8.80), in addition to total goals (31) and total points (88).

FIU came into the match with a top-80 RPI and it had statistically played the 17th-hardest schedule in the country. FGCU represented the fifth-consecutive nationally-ranked team the Panthers have played.

After being ranked #15 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Poll last week, the Eagles jumped three spots to #12 on Tuesday afternoon. The ranking is the highest in program history (besting a previous #14 ranking from Goal.com in 2011) and also is the highest of any program in FGCU’s Division-I history (since 2007-08).

In addition to the men’s soccer team’s eight-game winning streak, the FGCU volleyball team has won 15 matches in a row – the best in the nation – and the FGCU women’s soccer team has won five-straight games – tied for the 12th-longest in the country. The three programs have combined to win an incredible 28-straight games.

FGCU (1-0-0 in ASUN play) will look for its second league win of the year when it travels to face Jacksonville on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 5 p.m. The Dolphins are 4-6-0 on the year and have a 1-2-0 mark in league games. The Eagles and JU have both played UCF and NJIT this year, with FGCU defeating both clubs, 3-1 and 4-1, respectively, while the Dolphins lost to both, 4-1 and 1-0, respectively.

TICKET INFORMATION
Single-game tickets are available for all remaining home games. More information, including special discounts and group rates, can be accessed by visiting FGCUTickets.com. To purchase tickets, or for additional inquiries, call the FGCU Ticket Office at 239-590-7145 Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. or log on to FGCUTickets.com.

FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-the minute information and a behind-the-scenes look at the FGCU men’s soccer program, follow on Twitter @FGCU_MSoccer, Instagram @FGCU_MSoccer, Facebook /FGCUMSoccer and YouTube /FGCUAthletics.

COACH BUTEHORN
FGCU is led by Bob Butehorn, who has coached six professional players and 54 ASUN All-Conference selections since FGCU started its program in 2007. In just five years of postseason eligibility, Butehorn has guided FGCU to three ASUN Tournament championships and NCAA Tournament appearances – in 2011, 2012 and 2014 – and has won an unprecedented six-straight ASUN regular-season championships. His teams have been ranked nationally on several occasions by multiple media outlets. Now in his 14th season as a head coach, Butehorn has a 123-92-26 (.564) overall record, 89-60-22 (.585) mark in his 10th season at FGCU and 49-17-6 (.722) record in ASUN contests.

SUPPORT THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics’ charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.