FORT MYERS, Fla. – Coming off another conference shutout on Saturday night, FGCU goalkeeper Connor Gavigan has been named ASUN Defensive Player of the Week, league officials announced Monday.

 

Gavigan (Aurora, Colo./Creighton/Grandview HS) made five saves as the Eagles won their fifth in a row with a 2-0 blanking of Lipscomb at the FGCU Soccer Complex. Four of his five saves came in the 2nd half, and the quintet of stops are the 2nd-most by Gavigan in a game this year.

 

It was the redshirt freshman’s third-straight shutout to open ASUN play as FGCU is the only team in the league which has yet to allow a goal in conference action. On the year, Gavigan has posted five shutouts – the 2nd-most in the ASUN – and leads the conference with a 0.85 goals-against average.

 

Gavigan ranks 2nd in the ASUN with a .794 save percentage and is 5th in the league with 27 saves. He is the second FGCU player to garner the weekly honor this year as Preston Kilwien (San Francisco, Calif./College Park HS) was named ASUN Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 25.

 

After opening the season 1-3-0, FGCU is unbeaten in its last six matches (5-0-1). The five-game winning streak is halfway to the program’s all-time record of 10 straight set last season, and is tied for the 5th-longest in the nation.

 

FGCU is alone in 2nd place in the ASUN standings with 9 points at 3-0-0, just behind Stetson with 12 points at 4-0-0. The Eagles head to DeLand this Saturday, Oct. 14, for a pivotal match with the Hatters. FGCU was installed as the ASUN preseason favorites, and it has commenced league play with victories over each of the three teams selected below it – North Florida (2nd, 2-0), Lipscomb (3rd) and Jacksonville (4th, 1-0).

 

The triumph over Lipscomb extended FGCU’s dominant record to 43-5-5 in all ASUN regular-season games since the start of the 2010 season. Out of a possible 159 points that could have been earned in that time, the Green and Blue have claimed an impressive 134 of them (84 percent).

 

Even more impressive, dating back to October of 2008 – just the program’s second season – FGCU is a gaudy 29-1-3 in home regular-season games against ASUN opponents.

 

The Eagles wrap up a three-game homestand on Tuesday, Oct. 10, when they host cross-state foe #17 FIU at the FGCU Soccer Complex at 7 p.m. The non-conference matchup could prove to be pivotal for FGCU’s postseason scenarios as the Panthers are one of three remaining unbeaten teams in the nation at 6-0-3.

 

IRMA RELIEF DONATIONS

In the wake of Hurricane Irma, many individuals and families throughout Southwest Florida are still in desperate need of assistance. To aid in those relief efforts, FGCU Athletics will be collecting donations at all Eagle home games for the immediate future. Donation items most needed include: non-perishable food, clothing, household items and first-aid supplies. Additionally, those unable to attend upcoming home games can drop off donations in canisters located in the Alico Arena lobby. All donations will be given to those hardest hit in Lee and Collier counties.

 

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 120-92-48 (.553 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.