ORLANDO, FL – The FGCU men's soccer team (7-4-1) suffered a 5-1 loss, going up against #19 UCF (9-2-2) Tuesday evening at the UCF Soccer Complex.

"We squandered a massive opportunity to make a national statement as a program," said head coach Jesse Cormier. "UCF was the more clinical team in and around the box and they took their chances and capitalized off our numerous mistakes. We are humbled but we'll regroup, be highly analytical and look to make the necessary corrections in our training and preparation as we look to improve our overall performance before we finish this season."     
  
The Eagles fell behind 25 seconds into the match after Cal Jennings – entered tonight's game with the second-most goals in the country – netted his 15th tally of the year getting through the Eagles' backline and finishing around keeper Gustavo Vasconcelos (Recife, Brazil/Colegio GGE). FGCU recorded two shots on goal in the first period as O'Vonte Mullings (Toronto, Ontario/ Northview Heights Secondary) would be denied on each strike from inside the penalty box. In the 26th minute, Jennings scored the Knight's second goal as UCF headed into the locker room with a 2-0 advantage.

During the first 45 minutes, FGCU produced six shots and held a 4-1 advantage in corners.

UCF extended its margin to 4-0 within the first 15 minutes of the second period. Louis Perez scored in the 51st with a strike from 20-yards out while Jennings collected his hat trick, finishing on an errant clearance from the Eagles.

Joao Burti (Sao Paulo, Brazil/South Kent/Iowa Western) got rid of the shutout in the 84th minute with his third goal of the season off a cross of Jahan Rajaee (Gainesville, Fla./F.W. Buchholz) inside the five-yard box. UCF's Yoni Sorokin would counter four minutes later to give the Knights the final score of 5-1.

FGCU matched its shot production in the first half with six, finishing with 12 as five came on target. The Eagles registered five more corners in the second half for a total of nine compared to UCF's two. 

It's the first time in over two years FGCU has conceded five goals to an opponent. The last time it happened was in a 6-5 win over Rutgers in September of 2016.  

UP NEXT
FGCU will look to put this loss behind them quickly with its next match coming on the road this Saturday against Omaha at 2 p.m. (1 p.m. CST).

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 is in his second season as head coach of the FGCU men's soccer program after being hired in January of 2017 to become just the 2nd head coach in program history. Cormier has guided FGCU to a 15-10-4 (.607) record overall, including an 8-6-3 (4-1-1 ASUN) mark in his 1st season with the team in 2017. The Eagles reached the ASUN Tournament semifinals for the 7th-straight season (every year of eligibility), as Cormier coached a program-record 10 all-conference selections. Cormier was the head coach at his alma mater the University of Vermont for the previous 13 seasons. He 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 holds an overall 129-99-51 (.558) record as a head coach in his fourteen plus seasons at the helm.

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.