Matchup: FGCU (4-2-1, 1-0-0 ASUN) vs Lipscomb (1-7-0, 0-1-0 ASUN)
When: Sat Sept. 29 | 8:00 PM EST | Nashville, TN.
Links: Watch |
Live Stats |
Coaches: Jesse Cormier (2nd Season @ FGCU; 15th Overall,
126-97-51) |
Charles Morrow (14th Season @ Lipscomb; 16th Overall,
120-142-30)
FORT MYERS, FL – After being rained out Tuesday night, the FGCU men's soccer team's focus will turn to Lipscomb as the Eagles look to avenge last year's ASUN Championship Semifinals loss by hitting the road for a Saturday night clash with the Bisons.
OPENING KICK
While FGCU holds a dominant 9-4-1 edge in the all-time series, nine of 13 matches have been decided by one goal. The only tie in the series came in the 2016 regular-season finale in Nashville, 1-1.
After Lipscomb won the first meeting in 2007, 2-0, FGCU claimed four-straight 2-1 victories. While the contests between the two sides have been close, they have also produced plenty of offense as there have only been four total shutouts in the 14 meetings. The aforementioned Lipscomb clean sheet in 2007, and then FGCU wins in 2013 (1-0), 2015 (4-0) and 2017 (2-0).
Earlier this week, keeper
Gustavo Vasconcelos was named the ASUN Defensive Player of the Week of the second time this month. Between two games against Cal State Fullerton and NJIT, the Brazil native secured 12 saves while conceding just one goal in 200 minutes of action. Vasconcelos 0.96 goals against average (GAA) currently sits atop the ASUN as he also leads the conference with 31 saves.
INSIDE THE FGCU LINEUP
Shak Adams (Antioch, Tenn./Cane Ridge HS) spearheads the FGCU offense with five goals, pairing that with three assists for a team-best 13 points thus far – third in the ASUN. Freshman
O'Vonte Mullings (Toronto, Ontario/ Northview Heights Secondary) is right behind him tallying three goals along with a pair of assists. Through seven matches, the Eagles boast seven different scorers on their roster. Redshirt senior
Jordan Lue (Tampa, Fla./Wharton/UCF) is the most recent player to join that list as the senior netted his first goal with the Eagles last Saturday afternoon against NJIT in the 86th minute to put the game out of reach.
The Eagles are currently ranked 32nd in the RPI standings.
ASUN OVERVIEW
FGCU was narrowly picked 2nd in the ASUN preseason coaches' poll earlier this month, 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 45-6-6 (.839 winning percentage) in all ASUN regular-season games since the start of the 2010 season. Out of a possible 171 points that could have been earned in that time, the Green and Blue have claimed an impressive 141 of them (82 percent).
AROUND THE ASUN
| SCHOOL |
PTS |
ASUN |
OVERALL |
| FGCU |
3 |
1-0-0 |
4-2-1 |
| JACKSONVILLE |
3 |
1-0-0 |
1-8-0 |
| LIBERTY |
1 |
0-0-1 |
3-3-1 |
| STETSON |
1 |
0-0-1 |
3-4-1 |
| UNF |
0 |
0-0-0 |
1-7-0 |
| NJIT |
0 |
0-1-0 |
5-4-0 |
| LIPSCOMB |
0 |
0-1-0 |
1-7-0 |
SCOUTING THE BISONS
It's been a rough start for the ASUN preseason favorites. The Bisons opened their 2018 slate with a 2-0 win over Belmont, but have dropped their last six matches since. In those six losses, five matches have been decided by one goal, with three going into overtime.
Logan Paynter leads the squad with three goals while dishing out one assist. Behind him, Ryan Birchfield and Javier Lieja each have a pair of goals.
In between the posts, it's been a rotation with two keepers. Chris Zappia so far has started five matches, logging in 25 saves for a 1.59 GAA in over 450 minutes. Meanwhile, Luke Wilson will enter the weekend having started three contests for the Bison, recording 15 saves, a 2.65 GAA in just over 305 minutes of play.
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
106-70-28 (.598) in 11 seasons, including a dominant 57-19-8 (.746) 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.
FGCU CAREER RECORDS
POINTS
1. 76 -
Albert Ruiz (34g 8a) - 2014-17
2. 43 - Cristian Raudales (19g 5a) - 2008-11
3. 38 -
Arion Sobers-Assue (12g 14a) - 2014-17
38 - Felipe DeSousa (18g 2a) - 2012-14
5. 32 -
Dylan Sacramento (12g 8a) - 2015-17
6. 31 - Josey Portillo (8g 15a) - 2008-11
7. 30 - Francesco DiStefano (9g 12a) - 2008-11
30 - Scott Harrison (12g 6a) - 2008-11
9. 29 -
Dennis Zapata (8g 11a) - 2015-Present
10. 28 - Deion Jones (9g 10a) - 2009-12
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
7. 9 - Skylar Wilks - 2013-15
9 -
Miguel Jaime - 2014-17
9 - William Morse - 2009-12
10. 8 - Donovan Henry - 2010-12
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 four upcoming contests, the next being on Saturday, Oct. 6 when Stetson comes into The Nest 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 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.
