FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU men's soccer team (1-2-2) continues its demanding non-conference schedule Thursday when the Eagles face another formidable challenge by hosting No. 8 Washington (4-1-0) at 7 p.m. under the lights of the FGCU Soccer Complex.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
Washington will be the second-highest ranked opponent FGCU has ever hosted as the Huskies moved up from No. 10 in the nation last week with a pair of wins. In 2010, Ohio State visited Southwest Florida as the No. 5 team in the country and left with a 1-0 loss as the Eagles played in front of a then-record 1,322 fans.
 
WHAT TO KNOW
FGCU campers receive free admission by wearing their camp shirt or any FGCU gear. Also, beginning at 5:30 there will be free food exclusively for Dirty Birds at the ROC (Recreation Outdoor Complex by the tennis courts). The game – presented by Coconut Point Ford – will be video streamed free of charge by visiting ASun.TV or clicking on the links associated with this release. Live stats will also be available by following the attached link. FGCU students, faculty and staff are admitted free of charge with their Eagle ID, while adult tickets start at $6, a family pack (good for two adults and 3-5 children) is $18 and groups of 10 or more are $3. For additional ticket information, visit the link at the top of the release.
 
Fans are encouraged to download the brand-new Wings Up mobile app in conjunction with SuperFanU prior to arriving at Thursday's match. The fully-customized loyalty-rewards platform allows fans to check in at each of FGCU's sporting events to earn points throughout the school year toward exclusive prizes that won't be offered anywhere else.
 
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the third meeting between FGCU and Washington, with the Huskies holding a 1-0-1 series edge following their 5-0 win last season. In 2011, the two teams met as part of the Nike Invitational in Portland, playing to a 1-1 double-overtime tie.
 
BREAKING DOWN THE MATCHUP
Thursday's match will be a battle between one of the nation's best offensive teams and one of the country's best defensive teams. Washington is tied for second in the country in goals per game (3.0) and tied for fourth with 15 total goals. Meanwhile, FGCU is tied for the nation's 25th-best defense as the Eagles have allowed only three goals on the year and have a goals-against average of 0.55 in 490 minutes of action over five contests.
 
FGCU goalkeeper Nathan Ingham leads the Atlantic Sun Conference in goals-against average and is second in save percentage (.833) – just .006 behind leader A.J. Fleak from Northern Kentucky. Ingham and the FGCU defense have only allowed one goal during the regular run of play this year as the other two goals came off a set piece and a penalty kick.
 
SCOUTING WASHINGTON
Darwin Jones leads Washington's offensive attack with five goals, while Mason Robertson and Josh Heard have netted three each. In net, Ryan Herman and Spencer Richey have been splitting time. Richey, who utilized a medical redshirt last season, has started three games and owns a goals-against average of 0.99 and a save percentage of .667. Herman, who led the Pac-12 Conference last season in goals-against average (0.83), has started two games for the Huskies this year and has a goals-against average of 1.00 and a save percentage of .600.
 
Washington went 16-2-4 last year, won its second Pac-12 Championship and reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament after earning the No. 2 overall seed. The Huskies finished the campaign ranked No. 5 in the nation and return eight starters from that team, including two MAC Herman Trophy Watch List (men's soccer equivalent of the Heisman Trophy) members in Richey and midfielder Christian Roldan.
 
The Huskies opened the year by destroying in-state foe Gonzaga, 4-0, and then trouncing No. 22 Seattle, 4-1, in their home opener. A 2-1 overtime setback to Saint Mary's at home dropped the Dawgs to 2-1-0, but they quickly regrouped with a pair of 3-1 victories last weekend at home over UConn and Pennsylvania.
 
RECAPPING LAST WEEKEND
FGCU fell from its No. 24 national ranking after dropping a pair of 1-0 contests at San Francisco on Friday and at Saint Mary's on Sunday. The goal scored by San Francisco came off a penalty kick in the 79th minute, while the goal netted by Saint Mary's was off a set piece in the 78th minute – one of just two shots the Gaels put on frame all game.

FGCU controlled the game against Saint Mary's throughout, finishing with a 19-7 shot advantage. The Eagles peppered Gaels' keeper Andre Rawls, forcing him into seven saves – five of which came in the second half – and also had several set-piece opportunities, out-cornered Saint Mary's to the tune of 12 to 1 and had a shot hit the post and another ring off the crossbar.
 
The pair of 1-0 losses marked the first time in program history that FGCU lost consecutive 1-0 games in regulation. The Green and Blue lost two straight 1-0 games during the 2009 season, but the second (Sept. 7 at FAU) came in overtime.
 
RECORD HOME SUPPORT
The Eagles have played in front of tremendous crowds each of their first three home games, highlighted by Sept. 6's record crowd of 1,574 when they battled 2010 national champion Akron. The previous FGCU attendance record was 1,556 against then-No. 13 USF during the 2011 season. The attendance against Akron was just the sixth time in program history FGCU played in front of at least 1,000 fans, and only the second occasion that total has been greater than 1,500.
 
Through the first three games of the season, FGCU has drawn 3,112 fans (1,037 per-game average), which surpasses the entire total from 2013 when seven contests drew a total of 2,948 spectators. Furthermore, FGCU is responsible for 42 percent of all A-Sun members' total home attendance (7,383).

DEMANDING SCHEDULE
Head coach Bob Butehorn has assembled what he believes is the most challenging non-conference schedule the program has ever faced. FGCU's first five opponents have a combined record of 12-9-4, while three have been in the national ranking discussion and the other two have knocked off nationally-ranked teams.
 
FGCU opened the season with a 2-0 win over USF, which is now 2-2-0 on the year and receiving votes in the national poll. The Eagles then tied Portland and Akron, 0-0 and 1-1, respectively, and at the time of those ties both programs were receiving votes in the national poll. Finally, San Francisco – now 4-1-0 on the year – defeated then-No. 21 Wisconsin earlier in the season, and Saint Mary's – now 3-2-0 on the year – won at then-No. 4 Washington.
 
Following Thursday's match with the Huskies, FGCU still has several challenging non-conference tilts remaining, highlighted by a visit to the current No. 9 team in the nation, Louisville, in October.
 
NEXT UP
FGCU remains at home to host Brown University Saturday night at 7. The Bears will be facing off against FGCU for the first time. Brown – located in Providence, R.I. – has made 27 NCAA Championship appearances, with the last coming in 2012. The Bears are out to a 2-2-0 start on the season and will play at USF Thursday night before heading to FGCU.
 
For 2014 men's soccer ticket information, visit the Alico Arena Ticket Office, call 239-590-7145 or log on to FGCUAthletics.com/Tickets. For up-to-the minute information and a behind-the-scenes look at the program, follow on Twitter @FGCU_MSoccer and Instagram @FGCU_MSoccer.