CLINTON, S.C. – Behind two goals from freshman O'Vonte Mullings, the FGCU men's soccer team (1-1) bounced back by taking down the reigning 2017 Big South Champions Presbyterian College (0-2) by a score of 2-0, Sunday afternoon at Martin Stadium.
 
"Much better performance today against a conference champion and NCAA tournament team," said head coach Jesse Cormier. "I thought we did a much better job expressing ourselves, delivered quality chances and we were tight defensively. We look forward to preparing and hosting national powerhouse Wake Forest next Saturday. We're excited to come home!"

Scoreless after nearly 25 minutes of action, Chris Clement (Mallorca, Spain/Lycee Francais de Palma) changed the narrative by crossing one in from the right side of the box finding the head of Mullings (Toronto, Ontario/ Northview Heights Secondary) for the 1-0 advantage. The Eagles would quickly strike again after the halftime intermission in the 53rd, once again as another right-footed cross from Clement found Mullings inside the five-yard box for the easy tap-in en route to the 2-0 road victory.

An opportunity showed itself for FGCU in the 18th tick with Shak Adams (Antioch, Tenn./Cane Ridge HS) striking one from inside five-yard box which was denied as his second attempt veered right of the lower post on the rebound. The constant pressure from the Eagles paid off in the 27th with Clement's one of two assists on the day. The Lycée Francais de Palma product settled a pass on the right side near the out of bounds line and with a one-time strike, found a leaping Mullings on the far post who headed it over the keeper's left shoulder for the score. It was FGCU's first score of the season.

PC nearly found the equalizer with just under five minutes left in the first half but Ryan Standridge's header bounced off the left post as FGCU held a 1-0 lead at the break.
The added insurance developed in the middle of the field and quickly into the second half. Jahan Rajaee (Gainesville, Fla./F.W. Buchholz) placed a pass to his right, finding the sprinting Clement who with two touches, crossed it into a wide-open Mullings for the tap-in, giving the freshman the brace in the 53rd.

Despite the 2-0 margin, the Green and Blue steadily pushed numbers forward. A third tally nearly materialized after a penalty kick was awarded in favor of FGCU as a PC player was sent off with a red card in the 74th but the PK attempt was denied.

Connor Gavigan (Aurora, Colo./Grandview/Creighton) finished the match with three saves – all coming in the second period – while collecting his first win of the season and sixth clean sheet with the Eagles as the staunch defense limited the Blue Hose to three shots over the remaining 20 minutes of play.

UP NEXT
FGCU returns home this Saturday, Sept. 1 for its home-opener against Wake Forest who was ranked #5 heading into the weekend after defeating #2 Indiana last night 2-1 in OT and face ETSU tonight. 

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 guided FGCU to an 8-6-3 (4-1-1 ASUN) record 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), and Cormier coached a program-record 10 all-conference selections. Hired in January of 2017 to become just the 2nd head coach in program history, Cormier was the head coach at 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 123-96-50 (.562) record as a head coach.

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