FORT MYERS, FL – With a win against ASUN newcomer Liberty Tuesday night, the FGCU men's soccer team can claim sole possession of first place in the conference, moving the squad atop the standings with nine points.

Matchup: FGCU (6-3-1, 2-1-0 ASUN) vs Liberty (5-4-1, 1-1-1 ASUN)
When: Tues Oct. 9 | 7:00 PM EST | FGCU Soccer Complex.
Links: Watch | Live Stats | Tickets
Coaches: Jesse Cormier (2nd Season @ FGCU; 15th Overall, 128-98-51) |
Jeff Alder (18th Season @ Liberty; Same Overall, 177-133-19)
 
OPENING KICK
Tuesday evening's matinee between the Eagles and the Flames will mark the first meeting between both sides. Liberty, who is new to the league this season, captured its first conference win over the weekend, beating NJIT, 2-1. Meanwhile, FGCU will be looking for its third win in six days, after claiming a 2-1 victory in Miami against FIU last Wednesday, followed by a 3-1 triumph over Stetson this past Saturday at the Nest.  

Over the last three seasons at home, the Green and Blue hold an overall 18-6-4 mark, going 8-1 in ASUN regular-season games.

MILITARY APPRECIATION 
In addition to being recognized pre-game, veterans, and active military members will receive free admission and a Mission BBQ gift card upon entry. Additional family members will get 50% off their tickets.

INSIDE THE FGCU LINEUP
Shak Adams (Antioch, Tenn./Cane Ridge HS) continues to fuel the Eagles offense. In the two wins versus FIU and Stetson, the junior produced three assists, scoring twice against the Hatters to collect a key conference win for the Eagles which put them in a three-way tie atop the standings. Adams' 21 points (7g, 7a) are a team-best as freshman O'Vonte Mullings (Toronto, Ontario/ Northview Heights Secondary) is behind him with 12 points (5g, 2a). All said, the Green and Blue's roster boasts nine different scorers.  

Between the posts, keeper Gustavo Vasconcelos (Recife, Brazil/Colegio GGE) is 5-2-1, as he leads the ASUN in saves (46), save percentage (.821) and goals against average (GAA) (1.22).

The Eagles are currently ranked 59th in the RPI standings.

2018 ASUN Weekly Awards
O'Vonte Mullings – Player of the Week (Aug. 27)
Gustavo Vasconcelos – Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 10)
Shak Adams – Player of the Week (Sept. 17)
Raheem Somersall – Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 17)
Gustavo Vasconcelos – Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 24)

ASUN OVERVIEW
FGCU was picked 2nd in the ASUN preseason coaches' poll, making it the first time since 2012 the Eagles were not selected as the preseason league favorite. Senior Preston Kilwien (Pleasant Hill, Calif./College Park HS) was installed as league's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year while Adams and senior Dennis Zapata (Orlando, Fla./University HS) joined Kilwien on the preseason all-conference team as FGCU's three selections were the most of any team in the league.

The Green and Blue finished just behind defending tournament champion Lipscomb in the preseason poll with 41 points while the Bisons had 42 points. Lipscomb received four 1st-place votes, while FGCU had one, 3rd-place Jacksonville (28 points) also had one and 4th-place NJIT (25) additionally picked up a top vote. Stetson (5th, 23 points), league newcomer Liberty (6th, 22 points) and North Florida (7th, 15 points) rounded out the preseason poll.

ASUN DOMINANCE
FGCU owns a dominant record of 46-7-6 (.830) in all ASUN regular-season games since the start of the 2010 season. Out of a possible 177 points that could have been earned in that time, the Green and Blue have claimed an impressive 144 of them (81 percent).

AROUND THE ASUN

School	Pts	ASUN	Overall	RECENT RESULTS
Jacksonville	6	2-0-0	2-9-0	L- UCF (8-1) (Oct. 2)
FGCU	6	2-1-0	6-3-1	W- Stetson, 3-1 (Oct. 6)
Lipscomb	6	2-1-0	3-7-0	W- UNF, 2-1 (Oct. 6)
Liberty	4	1-1-1	5-4-1	W- NJIT, 2-1 (Oct. 6)
North Florida	3	1-1-0	2-8-0	L- Lipscomb, 2-1(Oct. 6)
Stetson	1	0-1-1	4-6-1	L- FGCU, 3-1(Oct. 6)
NJIT	0	0-3-0	5-7-0	L- Liberty, 2-1(Oct. 6)

MATCHES TO WATCH THIS WEEK
Tuesday, Oct. 9
Stetson @ Georgia State 7 PM
Lipscomb @ Evansville 7 PM
Friday, Oct. 12
Jacksonville @ UNF 7 PM
Saturday, Oct. 13
Stetson @ NJIT 3 PM
Liberty @ Lipscomb 8 PM

SCOUTING THE FLAMES
Liberty is riding a two-game win streak, outscoring its opponents 7-1 during that stretch. After a 2-1 win over NJIT Saturday, Kevin Mendoza and Brogan Engbers were named the conference's Player and Defensive Player of the Week Monday afternoon, respectively. Tresor Mbuyu has tallied a team-best nine goals for the Flames with three assists, while Mendoza his on his heels with eight goals and also a trio of assists.

In net, Engbers (4-3-0) has logged 700 minutes, securing 24 saves, a save percentage at .686 and a 1.41 GAA. James Knoebel is the Flames' second keeper in line with four matches in the book with 227 minutes played and three saves.

FGCU RECORD BOOK
POINTS
 

1	76	Albert Ruiz (34g 8a) -  2014-17
2	48	Shak Adams (18g 10a) 2016-Present
3	43	Cristian Raudales (19g 5a) - 2008-11
4	38	Felipe DeSousa(18g 2a)  - 2012-14
	38	Arion Sobers-Assue(12g 14a) - 2014-17
6	32	Dylan Sacramento (12g 8a) - 2015-17
7	31	Joey Portillo (8g 15a) - 2008-11
8	30	Francesco DiStefano (9g 12a) - 2008-11
	30	Scott Harrison (12g 6a) - 2008-11
10	29	Dennis Zapata (9g 11a) - 2015-Present

GOALS

1	34	Albert Ruiz- 2014-17
2	19	Cristian Raudales - 2008-11
3	18	Felipe DeSousa - 2012-14
	18	Shak Adams - 2016-Present
5	13	Henry Penagos - 2010-14
6	12	Scott Harrison - 2008-11
	12	Arion Sobers-Assue - 2014-17
	12	Dylan Sacramento - 2015-17
9	10	Xavier Silva - 2011-14
10	9	Dennis Zapata - 2015-Present

ASSISTS

1	15	Josey Portillo - 2008-11
2	14	Arion Sobers-Assue -2014-17
3	12	Francesco DiStefano - 2008-11
4	11	Dennis Zapata - 2015-Present
	11	Andres Navas- 2009-12
6	10	Deion Jones - 2009-12
	10	Shak Adams - 2016-Present
7	9	William Morse - 2009-12
	9	Skylar Wilks -  2013-15
	9	Miguel Jaime - 2014-17

GAME-WINNING GOALS

1	8	Felipe DeSousa - 2012-14
2	6	Cristian Raudales - 2008-11
	6	Shak Adams - 2016-Present
4	5	Xavier Silva -2011-14
	5	Albert Ruiz - 2014-2017
	5	Henry Penagos -  2010-14
7	4	Robert Ferrer - 2015-17
	4	Arion Sobers-Assue - 2014-17
	4	Francesco DiStefano - 2008-11
	4	Santiago Echeverri - 2011-14

 

BUILDING A CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM
Since the program's first two seasons in 2007 and 2008, FGCU has posted a winning record each of the past nine years. All-time, the Eagles are 108-71-28 (.573) in 11 seasons, including a dominant 58-20-8 (.720) record in ASUN contests. In just seven years of D-I postseason eligibility, FGCU has won four ASUN Tournament championships and made four NCAA Tournament appearances – in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2016 – and won an unprecedented six-straight ASUN regular-season championships from 2010-15. In 2017, the Eagles continued a stretch of never being seeded lower than 2nd and have reached at least the semifinals in all seven eligible seasons.

INSIDE THE SCHEDULE
All told, the 2018 slate features 16 games, including 10 non-conference matchups to prepare the Eagles for what they hope is a fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in only eight seasons of eligibility. Of those 10 non-league contests, an incredible five are against NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago.

The FGCU Soccer Complex will host one more contest, the next being Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. when UNF comes into town on Senior Night for the Eagles.  

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.