WASHINGTON, D.C. – Playing its second straight ranked opponent to start the season, the FGCU men’s soccer team dropped a hard-fought contest at No. 16 Georgetown, 1-0, on a hot Monday afternoon at newly-renovated North Kehoe Field.

After applying good pressure on the offensive end for a majority of the second half, the Eagles gave up the game-winning goal in the 81st minute as Georgetown freshman Brandon Allen used a quick turn at the right side of the goal box to create space before firing a left-footed shot into the far corner.

The loss dips FGCU to 0-2 on the season heading into its home opener on Sunday, Sept. 2 against Patriot League favorite Bucknell. Meanwhile, Georgetown improves to 2-0 after also beating No. 23 Virginia in overtime on Friday.

“I’m pleased with the fight we showed and our ability to respond from a tough result on Friday with a good effort today,” said head coach Bob Butehorn. “I thought we did a better job today of possessing and moving the ball, but with all that said I’m disappointed in the result. Playing a tough opening weekend like this against very good opponents will benefit our young team and we’ll build off this during our upcoming week of preparation for Bucknell.”

A fairly-evenly played first half saw both clubs possess the ball for periods of time, but it was Georgetown that had the best scoring chances in the opening 45 minutes. The Hoyas’ best effort came in the 41st minute when MAC Hermann Award Watch List member Steve Neumann put a dangerous shot on frame, but was denied by sophomore keeper Nathan Ingham (Ontario, Canada/Keswick HS), who made a diving save going to his right.

The scoreless first half ended with Georgetown putting five of its seven shots on goal, but Ingham was up for the task on all five. Seniors Will Morse (Sugar Land, Texas/Clements HS) and Andres Navas (Miami, Fla./Sunset Senior HS/FIU) accounted for all of FGCU’s four shots.

Just over 12 minutes into the second half, FGCU started to build momentum, getting off six shots to Georgetown’s one over a 20-minute span. The last and best of the six shots came off the right foot of Navas, who worked his way out of traffic on the left flank to the middle of the 20 where his shot to the right post was saved by a diving Tomas Gomez.

Just after Navas’ shot and with FGCU controlling the ball in Georgetown’s end, play was stopped due a medical helicopter landing near the field, a common occurrence at Georgetown games. The helicopter landing pad in just yards away from the end of the field in which the Eagles were attacking towards in the second half.

Just moments after a second brief stoppage for the helicopter to take back off, Georgetown was able to score the game’s lone goal at the 80:57 mark. Gomez’s goal kick flew nearly three quarters of the way down the field where the ball found Allen. Working his way to the right corner of the goal box, Allen was able to turn inside to his left foot where the former New York Red Bulls Academy forward hit a strike for his first collegiate goal.

FGCU was unable to muster any real potential game-tying scoring chances the rest of the way, as the final shot count edge went to Georgetown, 14-11.

The matchup of keepers that both spent time with their respective U-20 National teams in the offseason saw Ingham (Canada) make seven saves, while Gomez (U.S.) made three second half stops.

FGCU’s home opener against Bucknell (No. 46) on Sunday will mark its third consecutive game against a team that was in TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Preseason Tournament 48 poll. Kick-off at the FGCU Soccer Complex is slated for 1 p.m.

FGCU season tickets can be purchased in person at the Alico Arena ticket office or by phone at 239-590-7145. Tickets are also available at www.FGCUathletics.com/tickets. The FGCU ticket office is open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. from Monday through Friday. An adult ticket is $30, while a youth (3-12 years) ticket is $15. Single game tickets can also be bought at $6 for adults and $3 for youth. Groups of 10+ can get in for $3 a person. FGCU students and faculty/staff get in free with their student ID.

New to the 2012 season, FGCU Athletics is excited to offer the Half-Price Sunday Soccer Punch Pass for both adults and youths. This offer is available now through the ticket office and will be available through September 16. They will also be on sale at the ticket office on soccer gamedays.

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