FORT MYERS, Fla. – In a battle of two teams who have combined to win their last seven games, the FGCU men’s soccer team (3-2-1) welcomes UNCW (4-0-0) to The Nest for a primetime affair Saturday night at 7.

OPENING KICK
After starting the season 0-2-1, FGCU has won its last three games by a pair of 2-1 decisions and a 3-1 triumph Wednesday night at UCF. UNCW, meanwhile, has outscored its opponents by a 12-2 margin through its first four contests of the year, including consecutive shutouts of Dayton (3-0) and Winthrop (2-0) last weekend at its home tournament.

WHAT TO KNOW
The first 100 fans in attendance will receive coupons to Pita Pit, while the first 100 students through the gates will receive a Pita Pit koozie and coupons, while supplies last.

AMONG THE NATION’S AND REGION’S BEST
In three weeks, FGCU has moved from unranked to #9 last week and settled at #6 this week in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Southeast Region Poll. The Eagles are one of three Atlantic Sun Conference members represented in the region, with the others being Jacksonville at #10 and North Florida at #2.

UNCW is ranked #3 in the NSCAA Midwest Region Poll this week (the organization ranks teams based on conference geographical affiliation, not school location) and is just outside the top 25 in nearly every national poll.

EAGLES vs. SEAHAWKS
FGCU traveled to Wilmington for its regular-season finale last year on Halloween night and left with a 1-0 victory. Skyler Wilks scored in the 11th minute for the Eagles, and Nathan Ingham made it stand up en route to setting the ASUN record for career shutouts with his 26th in the first-ever meeting between FGCU and UNCW.

SCOUTING UNCW
The Seahawks opened the season with a 4-1 win at Campbell before traveling just outside Baltimore a few days later and taking down 2014 College Cup participant UMBC, 3-1. At its tournament last weekend, UNCW continued to make a statement with a 3-nill rout of a Dayton club which was just four points shy of being the Atlantic 10 Conference preseason favorite. The Seahawks concluded the invitational with another shutout of Winthrop.

UNCW is one of just six remaining undefeated and untied teams and presents one of the most potent offenses in the nation. The Seahawks rank 2nd in the country with an average of three goals per game and are 4th in the nation with three assists per game. Meanwhile, the team’s 0.50 goals-against average is 17th-best in the country.

Individually, Julio Moncada and Stian Sandbekkhaug lead the charge with four goals each – three of which have been game-winners for Moncada to rank tied as the most in the country. The Seahawks return 13 letterwinners but just five starters from a team which finished 8-8-3 last year and lost to Delaware in the Colonial Athletic Association quarterfinals.

OFFENSIVE SPARK
FGCU has scored in each of its first six games for the first time since 2011, and it’s largely due to increased shot attempts and efforts on frame. The Eagles lead the ASUN in shots with 105 – 26 more than any other team – and their per-game average of 17.5 ranks 4th in the nation.

Those shot attempts have resulted a plethora of early-season goals as FGCU is tied for 2nd in the ASUN with 11 tallies and are tied for the league lead with 11 assists.

Entering Wednesday’s match, 15 of FGCU’s 23 total points had come from two players: Albert Ruiz (4g, 2 a) and Dylan Sacramento (2g, 1a). The Eagles posted 10 points in their win over UCF, and none came from the lethal front-line duo as the Green and Blue demonstrated they have plenty of talented offensive weapons. Despite that, Ruiz (Barcelona, Spain/UE Cornella/CE L’Hospitalet) still ranks tied for 2nd in the ASUN with four goals and is in sole possession of 2nd place with 10 points. Sacramento (Winnipeg, Manitoba/York University/Bill Crothers S.S.) easily leads the conference in shots with 28.

JACKMAN STEPPING UP
FGCU head coach Bob Butehorn alternated starting goalkeepers the first four games of the year, but sophomore Sawyer Jackman (Chicago, Ill./St. Charles East HS) has received the nod each of the last three contests and has delivered with three wins, only three goals allowed and 14 saves.

Against UCF on Wednesday, he came within one save of matching his career high of seven set last year at Brown. Jackman is now 3-0-1 on the year with five goals against for a 1.18 GAA. He ranks 3rd in the ASUN with a save percentage of .773 and has made 17 saves – the 2nd-most in the league.

RECAPPING UCF
FGCU staked itself to a three-goal second-half advantage and rolled to its third-straight win Wednesday at UCF. Dennis Zapata (Orlando, Fla./University HS), Robert Ferrer (Barcelona, Spain/Brevard College/IES Calmot) and Arion Sobers-Assue (Miami, Fla./DeMatha Catholic HS) tallied FGCU’s strikes in the 39th, 57th and 63rd minutes, respectively, as the Eagles posted a season-high three goals. All three players also added assists and finished the contest with three points.

2-1 TREND
Four of FGCU’s six games this year have been decided by 2-1 margins. The Eagles opened the campaign with a 2-1 loss at Northwestern, tied Michigan, 2-2, fell at Loyola Marymount, 2-1, in advance of their recent 2-1 wins at UC Irvine, at home versus San Francisco and 3-1 triumph at UCF.

DID YOU KNOW?
FGCU owns the longest home conference regular-season unbeaten streak in the nation at 28 straight (25-0-3). The Eagles have not lost a home ASUN regular-season game in nearly eight years, dating back to a 2-0 defeat against Jacksonville in October of 2008 – the program’s second season.

NEXT UP
FGCU remains at home for a quick turnaround as it hosts cross-state foe FAU on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. The Owls are 1-2-1 on the year heading into a matchup at home versus South Carolina on Saturday evening.

TICKET INFORMATION
Season and single-game tickets are available for the 2016 campaign, with season tickets starting at just $35. 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.

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 118-92-26 (.555) overall record, 84-60-22 (.572) mark in his 10th season at FGCU and 48-17-6 (.718) 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.

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