FORT MYERS, FL – The FGCU men's soccer team's (9-5-2) season came to a close Sunday evening in heartbreaking fashion. After being tied 1-1 after 110 minutes, Stetson (7-9-2) advanced to the ASUN Championship final game in penalty kicks, 5-4.

"The first order of business is to respect Stetson's effort tonight," said head coach Jesse Cormier. "Coming off Friday, playing a lot of minutes, playing really hard against UNF and then to come in here, stifle us and really come at us pretty early and often. We had some opportunities to put the game away and we didn't, they hung around and battled to the end so they were deserving. As much as it kills me to have to say goodbye to our seniors and have the season end, soccer is usually a pretty honest, just experience. I thought Stetson brought just enough fight tonight to get to penalties and to be able to move on. I'm disappointed but we have a lot of guys coming back next year. The seniors have left their mark and I'm hoping we can continue to make strides and maybe get through this game next year, make that final and make something happen in the NCAA tournament."   
  
It looked like both teams were going to head into the half scoreless until Joao Burti (Sao Paulo, Brazil/South Kent/Iowa Western) found Ryan Medilah (Paris, France/Lycee Maurice Ravel/San Jacinto/Cloud County) inside the penalty box as he gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead 41 seconds before the intermission. FGCU maintained the 1-0 margin until the Hatters knotted the affair off a corner kick with Lewis Scattergood's header finding the net in the 73rd minute. After 90 minutes wasn't enough, the contest eventually headed into double overtime.

With 7:30 remaining in the second OT period, the match went into a weather delay that lasted just over two and a half hours. Stetson recorded the only shot in that period and capitalized in the penalty shootout, advancing, 5-4.

Both offenses struggled throughout the first period, as both teams produced three shots apiece, with the Hatters firing a pair on goal that was secured by keeper Gustavo Vasconcelos (Recife, Brazil/Colegio GGE). The Eagles made their third shot count just under a minute before the break. Outside the 18-yard box, Burti flicked the ball over his left shoulder, where he dribbled it inside the 15-yard box. He then fired a cross to the far left-post, finding an unmarked Medilah for the easy tap-in and his third tally of the season.

In the second period, Burti registered FGCU's first shot on goal in the 58th minute as the Eagles looked for the insurance. The Green and Blue yielded one shot up to this point but a corner kick from Stetson in the 73rd minute tied the contest as Scattergood scored off a header from Nathan Monsanto. Over the next 17 minutes, FGCU came away with four shots on goal as neither could find the twine.

Both teams' registered two shots apiece in the overtime periods (one on frame each) before the contest would be decided in penalty where Stetson advanced on a 5-4 margin.

It marked the first time in the ASUN tournament in which FGCU was involved in a penalty shootout. In the losing effort, Vasconcelos capped off the game with five saves. On offense, FGCU led Stetson 17-11 in shots with seven coming on goal.

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 17-11-5 (.594) record overall, including a 9-2-2 mark (.773) in ASUN play. The Eagles have reached the ASUN Tournament semifinals for the 8th-straight season (every year of eligibility), as Cormier has coached 16 all-conference selections since his arrival (program-record 10 in 2017). 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 131-100-52 (.553) 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.