@FGCU_MSoccer Controls Game, Beats Stetson
DeLAND, Fla. – Behind an early goal from Miguel Jaime, an insurance strike from Skylar Wilks and another shutout from Nathan Ingham, the No. 14 RPI-ranked FGCU men’s soccer team (4-2-1, 2-0-0 Atlantic Sun Conference) won its second league game in four days on Saturday night as the Eagles went on the road and dispatched of in-state foe Stetson (4-5-1, 0-1-0 A-Sun) by a 2-0 margin.
Jaime (Denver, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) tallied his first career game-winning goal in the 6th minute as the Green and Blue started fast. The sophomore midfielder received an assist from junior forward Justin Gavin (Brooklyn, N.Y./Eastern Florida State College/Treasure Coast HS) – who was inserted late into the starting lineup – off a throw-in as the Eagles jumped out to a 1-0 lead.
That advantage was extended when Wilks (Tampa, Fla./Newsome HS) scored his first career goal just after halftime in the 50th minute. Kamar Marriott (Tampa, Fla./Heritage HS) played a ball into the middle of the pitch for the redshirt senior, and he finished it to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.
That lead was plenty for one of the best goalkeepers in the nation as Ingham (Keswick, Ontario/Keswick HS) made five saves en route to his third shutout of the season and 22nd of his career. The redshirt senior – who missed two-and-a-half games earlier this year with an ankle injury – lowered his goals-against average to 0.43 on the year. Entering the contest, Ingham ranked 14th in the nation in that category with a 0.53 GAA.
“Overall it was a solid performance for us against a league team on its home ground and in a tough environment,” said FGCU head coach Bob Butehorn. “We had some chances to finish a couple more goals and possibly close the game out even earlier, but our back four was great tonight and made a big difference. We’re starting to put things together, and I just want us to get a little cleaner as we move forward.”
With the victory, FGCU is alone in first place in the A-Sun with a 2-0 mark and six points. The Eagles are the only 2-0 team in the league and are three points clear of UNF, Lipscomb and USC Upstate.
The triumph also extends FGCU’s dominant overall record to 34-4-3 in all A-Sun regular-season games since the start of the 2010 season. All four of those losses have come on the road, and out of a possible 123 points that could have been earned in that time, the Eagles have claimed an impressive 105 of them (85 percent) en route to a previously unforeseen five-straight A-Sun regular-season titles.
Coupled with its 4-0 shutout of Jacksonville on Wednesday, it marks just the second time in program history that FGCU has opened the A-Sun schedule with back-to-back clean sheets. In 2013, the Eagles blanked Lipscomb and then-member Northern Kentucky each 1-0 to commence the league docket. However, it does represent the first time in program history that FGCU has opened the A-Sun slate with consecutive shutouts when scoring more than one goal.
After Stetson won three-straight one-goal games against FGCU from 2007-09, the Eagles won three in a row from 2010-12 to tie the all-time series at 3-3 until the two sides traded wins at home in 2013 and 2014. The victory on Saturday night gives the Eagles a 5-4 edge in the all-time series with Stetson.
With the shutout, Ingham moves within three of tying and four of breaking the all-time A-Sun mark. Additionally, Ingham – who was named the PDL Championship MVP this summer – is also closing in on the A-Sun record for lowest career goals-against average. A-Sun men’s soccer history dates back to 1979.
A-Sun Career Shutouts
1) Ryan Coulter: 25 (ETSU, 2011-13)
2) Jeff Cassar: 23 (FIU, 1992-95)
3) Nathan Ingham: 22 (FGCU, 2011-Present)
A-Sun Career Goals-Against Average (minimum 2,000 minutes)
1) Ryan Coulter: 0.95 (ETSU, 2011-13)
2) Nathan Ingham: 0.98 (FGCU, 2011-Present)
FGCU will have a week off before returning to A-Sun play next Saturday, Oct. 10, at UNF. Kickoff against the Ospreys – who are 5-5-0 overall and 1-0-0 in the A-Sun following a 3-0 win at Lipscomb Saturday night – is set for 7 p.m. from Jacksonville.
TICKET INFORMATION
Single-game tickets are available starting at just $7 for adults, $5 for youth (3-12) and $20 for a family pack. More information, including additional special discounts and group rates, can be accessed by logging on to FGCUAthletics.com/tickets or by clicking here. 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.
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 45 A-Sun All-Conference selections since FGCU started its program in 2007. In just four years of postseason eligibility, Butehorn has guided FGCU to three A-Sun Tournament championships and NCAA Tournament appearances – in 2011, 2012 and 2014 – and has won an unprecedented five-straight A-Sun regular-season championships. His teams have been ranked nationally on several occasions by multiple media outlets. Now in his 13th season as a head coach, Butehorn has a 112-89-23 (.551) overall record, 78-57-19 (.569) mark in his 9th season at FGCU and 46-17-5 (.713) record in A-Sun 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.
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