FORT MYERS, Fla. – Facing a 2nd-half deficit, the nation’s most explosive offense stepped up to score three times in a 3-minute-and-47-second span to propel the #12 FGCU men’s soccer team (9-2-1) to a nation-best ninth-straight win with a 3-2 triumph over I-75 rival USF (5-6-2) Tuesday night at The Nest.

Trailing 1-0 with just under 25 minutes remaining, 2nd-half defensive substitute Eli Roubos scored the equalizer at the 66:03 mark, starting defender Nicolas Samayoa netted the go-ahead strike at the 66:59 mark and 2nd-half substitute Shak Adams tallied his second game-winning goal in as many contests at the 69:50 mark.

The Eagles entered the match leading the nation in goals and points, and once again didn’t disappoint in front of 1,241 fans – the 5th-largest home crowd in program history. The club also set a program record as it ran its winning streak to nine in a row, besting the previous mark of eight straight by the 2010 and 2012 teams.

Playing in just his second game of the year following an injury, Roubos (Toronto, Ontario/Oregon State/Northview Heights Secondary) entered in the 61st minute and found the back of the net for the first time in his career following a scrum off a corner.

Then, as has been the case nearly all year for the Eagles, the goals came in droves. Substitute Miguel Perez (Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay HS) – who came into the match late in the 1st half and made an immediate impact – fired a shot just 50 seconds after Roubos scored. It was slightly deflected right to Samayoa (Guatemala City, Guatemala/Colegio Valle Verde), who deposited his first goal of the year from about five yards out into an open net.

Just three minutes later FGCU converted its third goal – and ultimate game-winner – off a perfect cross from the right side by Justin Gavin (Brooklyn, N.Y./Eastern Florida State College/Treasure Coast HS) on to the head of Adams (Antioch, Tenn./Cane Ridge HS). The true freshman and reigning ASUN Player of the Week calmly sent home his third goal in the last two games as FGCU scored at least three goals for the seventh-straight match.

The three goals in 3:47 represent the 15th-fastest time for the same team to score three-consecutive goals in NCAA Division-I history. Earlier this year on Sept. 27, FGCU scored three-straight goals in 57 seconds at Rutgers – the 2nd-fastest in D-I history – behind only Syracuse’s 43-second span versus Fordham on Oct. 17, 1989.

“It was a good win on a tough night. USF is finally healthy and they were very good,” commented FGCU head coach Bob Butehorn of the Bulls, who began the year ranked #17 in the country and entered the match with an official RPI of 53. “I’m really proud of my team because it was a tough one to get, and we got it. We had some guys step up in substitute roles and get the job done in the 2nd half, and they should be commended for that as well.”

Butehorn has pulled some magic in recent contests as five of FGCU’s last seven goals over the past two games have come from 2nd-half substitutes, led by Adams’s three. FGCU entered the match leading the nation in goals with 35, but received a pair of strikes on Tuesday from players who hadn’t scored all year. Last Tuesday at FIU, the Eagles had all four of their goals scored by first-timers this year.

FGCU has now had an incredible 13 different players score this season. There are 64 D-I teams in the nation that haven’t scored 13 goals total this year.

Scoring is something USF was looking to do early to set the tone against the Eagles’ prolific attacking formation, and the Bulls did jump ahead in the 28th minute off a Lindo Mfeka goal. USF – which has made nine NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 11 years – didn’t go down without a fight after FGCU went ahead as Melvin Becket converted his second goal of the year not even two minutes after Adams put the Eagles up, 3-1.

However, FGCU held on as goalkeeper Sawyer Jackman (Chicago, Ill./St. Charles East HS) made three saves on the evening to move his record to 8-0-1 on the campaign.

FGCU finished the night with a 14-9 shot advantage and a 6-5 edge with shots on goal. Both keepers made three stops, and the Eagles held a slim 3-2 corner advantage.

USF was coming off a 2-0 win Thursday night over Tulsa, which defeated #6 Creighton on Tuesday night, 2-1. Including FGCU, seven of USF’s 13 opponents this year have been ranked or receiving votes in the national polls at the time the Bulls played them.

By scoring three goals, FGCU sets the program single-season record with 38, breaking a tie of 35 with the 2010 club. Additionally, its eight points moves FGCU to within three of breaking the single-season program record for points which is currently 108 held by the 2011 squad.

The triumph is the eighth in a row over non-conference opponents for FGCU – the longest in program history. USF was FGCU’s final non-conference regular-season opponent this year.

The Eagles will now turn its sole focus to ASUN Conference action as they continue their four-game homestand with just their second ASUN match of the year on Friday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. versus Stetson (3-6-2, 1-2-0 ASUN). FGCU is 1-0-0 in league action this year as it had its match this past Saturday against Jacksonville postponed due to Hurricane Matthew.

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 124-92-26 (.566) overall record, 90-60-22 (.587) 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.