MIAMI – The FGCU men's soccer team (5-3-1, 1-1-0 ASUN) found themselves in a 1-0 hole at the break but a pair of goals within minutes apart of each in the second half pushed the Eagles past FIU (4-6, 3-0 C-USA), 2-1, Wednesday night at the FIU Soccer Stadium.

"I thought our guys responded very well, they showed some mental toughness and grit," said head coach Jesse Cormier. "Playing a team who went to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year, who in many ways we suffered our worst loss to last year at home. The guys responded in such a resilient way. It shows that when we provide the energy and they stick together, and work as a team, we can beat anybody."

A penalty awarded to the Panthers in the 27th minute looked to be the difference early on as the FGCU trailed 1-0 at the break. Unfazed, the Eagles got through adversity courtesy of O'Vonte Mullings (Toronto, Ontario/ Northview Heights Secondary) and Ryan Medilah (Paris, France/Lycee Maurice Ravel/San Jacinto/Cloud County) whose scores in the 66th and 68th minute completed the comeback over the C-USA favorites.

Possession through the first 20 minutes of the match seemed equal for both teams until FIU broke through with a penalty kick for the first tally of the contest after 27 minutes. With four minutes remaining in the first period, Miguel Perez (Caracas, Venezuela/Cypress Bay) nearly tallied the equalizer as his left-footed shot went just wide of the far post. At the half, the Eagles trailed 13-8 in shots, with just one coming on goal.

Coming out of the break, the FGCU offense started to find its form, producing four shots and a corner within the first 20 minutes. It didn't take long for them to capitalize as Mullings netted the elusive equalizer in the 66th minute. Playing off Shak Adams (Antioch, Tenn./Cane Ridge HS) inside the penalty area, Mullings tucked it past the keeper's near-post for the tie – it was Mullings first score since Sept. 1 against #1 Wake Forest and fourth of the year.

Just minutes later, FGCU struck again for the 2-1 advantage. Adams was once again in the mix, feeding a pass to Medilah from midfield, who then volleyed it over FIU keeper Hugo Fauroux from outside the 18-yard box for the score. The eventual game-winning goal was Medilah's first while dawning the Green and Blue.

Down the stretch, Eagle keeper Gustavo Vasconcelos (Recife, Brazil/Colegio GGE) and the FGCU backline were tasked with preserving the 2-1 margin and they rose to the occasion. After Medilah's goal, the Panthers were limited to five shots, with just two coming on frame.

FGCU tied a season-high with 17 shots Wednesday night as five were on goal while edging FIU 6-5 in corners. The Panthers, who scored a combined nine goals in their last two outings, recorded 20 shots as only six came on goal.

Vasconcelos ended the night with fives en route to his third win of the year.

Wednesday night's matchup was the fourth non-conference 2017 NCAA Tournament team FGCU has faced this season as the Eagles are now 2-1-1 this year in those contests.

UPDATED ASUN STANDINGS

School	Pts	ASUN	Overall
Jacksonville	6	2-0-0	2-9-0
UNF	3	1-0-0	2-7-0
FGCU	3	1-1-0	5-3-1
Lipscomb	3	1-1-0	2-7-0
Stetson	1	0-0-1	3-5-1
Liberty	1	0-1-1	4-4-1
NJIT	0	0-2-0	5-6-0

 
UP NEXT
FGCU returns to the pitch this Saturday for its 'Pinkout Game' against Stetson (3-5-1, 0-0-1 ASUN) at 7 p.m.

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 13-9-4 (.568) 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 127-98-51 (.562) 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.