HILLSIDE, NJ – The FGCU men's soccer team (4-2-1, 1-0 ASUN) kicked off league play on the road Saturday afternoon shutting out NJIT (5-3, 0-1 ASUN) 2-0, at Kean University East Campus Stadium.

"Another very good team win today," said head coach Jesse Cormier. "We had 20 plus guys involved today against a very competitive, mature NJIT squad who were 5-2 and the guys came together, stretched themselves and put the team first. Shak is in great form, the backline and Gustavo resisted everything that was thrown our way, including the penalty. Very proud of our collective effort."

The scoreless tie was broken up in the 30th minute courtesy of Shak Adams (Antioch, Tenn./Cane Ridge HS) netting his fifth goal of the season. Holding onto a 1-0 margin, the backline clamped down to keep the Highlanders off the board as Jordan Lue ( Tampa, Fla./Wharton/UCF) tacked on the insurance in the 85th minute en route to FGCU's 2-0 victory and third time this season the Eagles have shutout an opponent on the road.

After FGCU fired a pair of shots on goal through the first six minutes, the Highlanders nearly took an early advantage in the 15th minute.  NJIT was awarded a penalty kick but keeper Gustavo Vasconcelos (Recife, Brazil/Colegio GGE) made a diving save to the far right post to keep the contest knotted at zero.

Playing off Joao Burti (Sao Paulo, Brazil/South Kent/Iowa Western) who checked into the game three minutes before, Adams beat two defenders and the keeper to the far side to give the Green and Blue the 1-0 margin. Adams has now scored in each of the past three games.

Following the intermission, Vasconcelos secured his second save of the afternoon in the 56th minute to keep NJIT from scratching the board. The Brazil native would come up big once again, this time off a direct kick. In the 69th minute, Pablo Jimenez nearly tallied the equalizer as it took a diving save from Vasconcelos to keep the Eagles ahead.

As the FGCU defense continued to stand tall, the insurance for the Eagles came in the 86th minute. Playing off a corner, Adam's shot ricocheted off a defender inside the box, but Lue was there for the tap-in, his first goal of the season and with the Green and Blue.

In total, NJIT recorded three shots the entire half, all secured by Vasconcelos who finished the match with seven saves. The Eagles outshot the Highlanders 15-8 and produced six corners in the second half compared to NJIT's two.

A total of 21 members of the Green and Blue all saw action in the team's 2-0 triumph.

UP NEXT
FGCU will welcome cross-state foe FAU to The Nest Tuesday afternoon at 7 p.m. The Eagles lead the all-time series 5-4-1, taking the last three of four matches while outscoring the Owls 9-1 during that stretch.

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 12-8-4 (.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 126-97-51 (.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.