FORT MYERS, Fla. – Looking for its seventh ASUN Conference regular-season title in the last eight years, the FGCU men’s soccer team (3-3-1, 1-0-0 ASUN) began its quest with an important 1-0 win over visiting Jacksonville (0-6-0, 0-1-0 ASUN) Saturday night at the FGCU Soccer Complex.

 

In a rematch of last year’s ASUN Championship Final, the Eagles once again secured a one-goal victory over the Dolphins, this time thanks to a Shak Adams goal in the 18th minute off an assist from Nicolas Samayoa.

 

The FGCU backline was again stout as the Green and Blue posted consecutive shutouts for the first time since the end of the 2015 regular season. Redshirt freshman Connor Gavigan didn’t need to make a save – but thwarted several JU chances – to pick up his third clean sheet of the season as he lowered his goals-against average to 1.13.

 

“It wasn’t our best performance. I thought we looked tired at times and Jacksonville executed more than I would have liked, but we responded well at times and the guys that came in to the match near the end gave us some energy to help us get to the finish line,” said FGCU head coach Jesse Cormier. “But I know this is going to be a competitive conference and we just want to get points. Jacksonville came here to get a point or three, and we were good enough to not let it happen and get three for ourselves.”

 

The FGCU goal was set up by a long pass up the right side by Samayoa (Guatemala City, Guatemala/Colegio Valle Verde) as he perfectly floated a lengthy delivery from about the mid-point of the FGCU side beyond the JU backline. From there, Adams (Antioch, Tenn./Cane Ridge HS) used his blistering speed to run on to the ball as it bounced a few times into the box, and on his first touch rifled a shot from about six yards over the outstretched arms of JU keeper Patrick Harding.

 

Just moments later FGCU nearly made it 2-0, but Miguel Jaime (Denver, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) had a near-perfect bicycle kick from the top of the box rattle off the crossbar in the 19th minute. The Green and Blue had another quality scoring chance in the 25th minute as they looked to add to their lead, but Dylan Sacramento (Winnipeg, Manitoba/York University/Bill Crothers S.S.) had his diving header not far from the near post saved.

 

Playing with a 1-0 advantage on the scoreboard which could have easily been 2-0 or 3-0, FGCU maintained its dominant form the rest of the opening stanza, limiting the Dolphins to very few chances as the Eagles hit the halftime break with a 7-2 shot advantage. Both of those attempts by JU came from about 30-35 yards out and soared well over the goal, never remotely threatening Gavigan (Aurora, Colo./Creighton/Grandview HS).

 

FGCU opened the 2nd half with the same pressure it ended the 1st half maintaining, and had a quick flurry in the opening minutes to try and extend its lead but were unsuccessful. The match remained tight on the scoreboard as the Dolphins began to tilt the pitch in their favor in the middle portion of the 2nd half, but the FGCU backline was equal to every task.

 

With just more than 20 minutes remaining in the match, Cormier substituted in Miguel Perez (Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay HS), Caleb George (Tampa, Fla./Chamberlain HS) and Lucas Bueno (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/International School of The Hague/Tulsa) as those three in particular gave the Eagles that needed energy to secure the shutout and three crucial points.

 

The Eagles finished the match with an 11-3 edge in shots. Harding made three saves for the Dolphins, who never really had any quality scoring chances against Gavigan and the FGCU backline.

 

The win extends FGCU’s dominant record to 41-5-5 in all ASUN regular-season games since the start of the 2010 season. Out of a possible 153 points that could have been earned in that time, the Green and Blue – who have won either the ASUN regular season or tournament championship each of the past seven years – have claimed an impressive 128 of them (83.7 percent).

 

After losing the first three meetings against Jacksonville and being out-scored in that timeframe, 9-1, FGCU has now won nine-straight games versus the Dolphins, out-scoring them, 24-7.

 

FGCU will have a week break from competitive action before returning to the pitch at North Florida next Saturday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. The Ospreys were predicted to finish 2nd in the ASUN Preseason Poll, but are off to a 1-5-1 start overall and 0-1-0 in league action after falling at home to Stetson Saturday night, 1-0.

 

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.

 

HEAD COACH JESSE CORMIER

Jesse Cormier was hired in January 2017 to become just the 2nd head coach in program history. The head coach at Vermont for the previous 13 seasons, Cormier won 14 games with the Catamounts in 2016 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round. During his time with Vermont, Cormier guided the program to the America East Tournament in 12 of 13 seasons, making five title game appearances, winning two tournament crowns, claiming a regular-season championship and advancing to three NCAA tournaments, including a pair of Second Round appearances. Cormier has a 117-92-48 (.549 winning percentage) overall record as a head coach.

 

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.