FORT MYERS, FL – The FGCU men's soccer team (6-3-1, 2-1 ASUN) jumped into a three-way tie atop the ASUN standings after taking down Stetson (4-6-1, 0-1-1 ASUN) Saturday night at the FGCU Soccer complex, 3-1.

"We started off a little flat emotionally," said head coach Jesse Cormier. "I give the guys credit, we found a way to get the points, found a way to score goals and create. I thought we had some opportunities throughout the game and we finished it. We're going to need guys to step up in big roles Tuesday night against Liberty and we expect to perform at home for the fans. They came out tonight for a great cause in the Pink Out and hopefully, they'll be coming out Tuesday to support us."

Similar to Wednesday night in Miami against FIU, the Eagles scored back-to-back goals within a matter of minutes to give the Eagles a 2-0 advantage after 13 minutes of play. Despite Stetson scoring a little over 10 minutes later, Shak Adams' (Antioch, Tenn./Cane Ridge HS) second goal of the night – seventh of the year –  in the 40th minute sealed the deal for FGCU en route to the 3-1 triumph over the Hatters.

Not wasting any time, freshman O'Vonte Mullings (Toronto, Ontario/ Northview Heights Secondary) scored the first goal of the night 11 minutes into the match. Playing off a long volley from the Eagle's backline from Kareem Riley (Couva, Trinidad and Tobago/Presentation College/San Fernando), Adam's settled with a few touches inside the 15-yard box and crossed a shot to his right to find Mullings for the left-footed finish in the corner. It was Mullings fifth goal of the season.

Two minutes would go by as the Eagles struck again, this time by way of a penalty kick. After receiving a pass from Ivan Rosales (Pasadena, Texas/Sam Rayburn/San Jacinto), Adams made his way inside the 18-yard box where he would be clipped from behind. Taking the kick, the junior was first denied but the rebound came right back towards him as he would fire it past the keeper for the 2-0 margin.

After the Hatters cut the deficit down to 2-1 in the 24th minute, FGCU made it a 3-1 contest with Adams' second goal of the night. Five minutes before halftime, Jason Van Achteren (Antwerp, Belgium/Olvi Boom/Eastern/New Mexico/Embry-Riddle) launched a pass from beyond midfield to Adams. The Cane Ridge HS product then beat between two Stetson defenders, cutting inside, where he would finish near post, giving the Eagles a 3-1 lead. At the half, FGCU led in shots 8-7, with three coming on goal.

In the second half, keeper Gustavo Vasconcelos (Recife, Brazil/Colegio GGE) and his back line anchored by Preston Kilwien (Pleasant Hill, Calif./College Park HS), Kamar Marriott (Tampa, Fla./Heritage) and Riley locked in on defense to suffocate the Hatter's offense. The Eagles yielded just four shots all period and two corners as Vasconcelos secured two saves with the last threat coming in the final minute. The Brazil native now moves to 5-2-1 this season.

In total, FGCU finished the night with 10 shots as six came on goal.

UPDATED ASUN STANDINGS

School	Pts	ASUN	Overall
Jacksonville	6	2-0-0	2-9-0
FGCU	6	2-1-0	6-3-1
Lipscomb	6	2-1-0	3-7-0
Liberty	4	1-1-1	5-4-1
UNF	3	1-1-0	2-8-0
Stetson	1	0-1-1	4-6-1
NJIT	0	0-3-0	5-7-0

 
UP NEXT
FGCU will once again have a quick turnaround as the Eagles welcome ASUN newcomer Liberty (5-4-1, 1-1-1 ASUN) to the Nest this Tuesday, Oct. 9 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 14-9-4 (.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 128-97-51 (.593) 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.