MIAMI – In a game that looked all but over with a little more than 10 minutes remaining, the FGCU men's soccer team (1-4-3) mounted a furious rally aided by two FIU red cards, but ultimately ran out of time in falling at the host Panthers (3-3-1) Wednesday evening, 2-1.
 
With FGCU trailing 2-0 in the 79th minute, FIU's Sean McFarlane was issued the first of two Panthers' red cards in a five-minute span, allowing the Green and Blue's offense to awaken. Following the second card – in the 84rd minute to Josue Espana – striker Felipe DeSousa (Tampa, Fla./Wharton HS) wasted little time in capitalizing on the two-man advantage as Isaiah Madrid (Albuquerque, N.M./Eldorado HS/Westminster) fed a pass ahead into the box to assist on DeSousa's third goal of the season as he finished inside the far post in the 86th minute.
 
Just 40 seconds later, substitute Arion Sobers-Assue (Miami, Fla./DeMatha Catholic HS) put a header on net which was saved by FIU keeper David Mitchell. The shot was one of seven by FGCU in the closing nine minutes of the contest, the last of which was sailed high by Madrid in the 89th minute. Of those seven shots between minutes 80 and 90, four were saved by Mitchell, who was forced into making seven saves on the evening.
 
"We had several great chances at the end to at least come back and earn a tie, but we just ran out of time," head coach Bob Butehorn said. "But we dug ourselves that hole and while it's not something we've been accustomed to this year, hopefully that's something we can learn from. We had early opportunities to go ahead in the game but were let down by not being clinical with our finishing. Then to give up a goal just before the half deflated us a bit. Our plan was to come out fast and get an early goal, and while we definitely created opportunities we couldn't finish. The next week off could be good for us as we need to regroup, rest and get ourselves ready for the start of conference play."
 
Time was also on the side of FIU in the first half as after FGCU had a corner kick of its own in the 44th minute, the Panthers countered and created their own corner kick less than a minute later. Off that set piece from Daniel Gonzalez, Marvin Hezel headed home his first goal of the year with just 21 seconds remaining in the half.
 
FIU added what would eventually be the game-winning goal relatively early in the second half as Gonzalez once again assisted, this time connecting on a pass to Nicholas Midttun at the top of the box. Midttun did the rest, sending his first goal into the corner netting, past FGCU goalkeeper Nathan Ingham (Keswick, Ontario/Keswick HS).
 
FGCU entered the contest with the nation's 17th-best defense by allowing just 0.52 goals per game, and Wednesday's contest marked the first time the Eagles have surrendered multiple goals in a contest all season.
 
Mired in a long scoreless drought, FGCU opened the contest in a 3-4-3 formation, representing the first time this year that Butehorn has used only three defensemen. The move immediately paid off as two of the three forwards – DeSousa and Albert Ruiz (Barcelona, Spain/UE Cornella/CE L'Hospitalet) attempted six shots in the opening 20 minutes compared with only one for FIU.
 
Half of those six shots were on target as the duo forced keeper Mitchell to make three saves. Eventually the Eagles – who entered the contest as the Atlantic Sun Conference leaders with 16 shots per game – built an 8-3 shot edge before the Panthers ended the first half on their own flurry, attempting eight of the final nine shots of the stanza.
 
Just as FGCU did in the first half, FIU opened the second half with the better of play, attempting the first two shots before converting its second goal. The first Green and Blue effort occurred in the 69th minute when Madrid had his shot blocked out of bounds for a corner, but the Eagles couldn't convert on their fourth of what would be five corners of the evening.
 
FGCU faced a 15-10 shot deficit with roughly 10 minutes remaining, but held a 17-15 advantage at the end of the contest, marking the fifth time in the last seven games (not including one tie) in which the Eagles have out-shot their opponents. Of those 17 FGCU shots, eight came from DeSousa, who set a program single-game record for shots, surpassing five others who were tied with seven – himself included.
 
FGCU will have its first weekend off from competitive action as the Eagles will next take to the pitch on Wednesday, Oct. 1, as they open A-Sun play at Jacksonville. FGCU will be back at home next Saturday, Oct. 4, to face Stetson at 7 p.m. Despite beginning league play next week, FGCU will still play three more non-conference matches, including the current No. 9-ranked Louisville Cardinals.
 
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.