STATESBORO, GA – The FGCU men's soccer team (2-2-0) picked up a huge 2-0 road victory over Georgia Southern (2-1-1) (receiving votes) Friday evening scoring late in the first period, followed by a strike nearly 20 minutes into the second half to seal the match at Eagle Field.

FGCU was in a deadlock tie for 35 minutes until a corner kick paid dividends. In the 36th minute, Kareem Riley (Couva,Trinidad and Tobago/Presentation College San Fernando) bended a ball into the box which got away from the keeper's gloves as Kamar Marriott (Tampa, Fla./Heritage) was there to put it away. Looking at a 1-0 advantage, the Eagles found the insurance in the 58th minute courtesy of Joao Burti (Sao Paulo, Brazil/South Kent/Iowa Western) finding the back of the net with his header shot en route to the 2-0 road shutout.

"Great win tonight!" said head coach Jesse Cormier. "To knock off an undefeated team at their home and play the way we did in the first half was a significant improvement. Getting contribution from the entire squad tonight was also encouraging and this was a credit to the entire team and I'm very proud of them."

It was a back and forth battle for possession as it seemed equal for both teams until the Green and Blue took advantage of a miscue with 10 minutes left before the half. Off a corner kick from Riley, the Georgia Southern keeper looked to have the ball in mid-air but it slipped right through his hands as Marriot was there for the rebound and finish. His first of the year, put the Eagles up 1-0 going into the intermission.

Following the break, keeper Gustavo Vasconcelos (Recife, Brazil/Colegio GGE) was quickly tested by the home side. In the 47th minute, GS fired off three shots in attempt to find the equalizer but the Brazil native was there for all three saves. Shortly after, FGCU tacked on the insurance goal on a play from the left side of the 18-yard box set up by Shak Adams (Antioch, Tenn./Cane Ridge). Settling with pace, Adams crossed in a right-footed shot and found a leaping Burti who buried it inside the five-yard box near post for the 2-0 lead and his first with the Green and Blue.

The Green and Blue zoned in on defense, conceding just one corner to Georgia Southern and one shot on goal that came in the 69th minute which was secured in the hands of Vasconcelos.

Despite being outshot by GS, the Eagles made their opportunities count with four shots on goal as both teams each tallied four corners apiece. Vasconcelos earns his first win of his Eagle career with the clean road sheet, snagging five saves. 

UP NEXT
The I-75 rivalry renews at home as former and founding head coach Bob Butehorn will be making his first return to campus since taking over the reins of the USF program following the 2016 season. The match will take place on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m.  USF began the 2018 slate receiving votes in the national poll after finishing in the top 50 of the RPI last year with a 6-6-4 record. The Bulls are currently 1-4 and have faced three teams in the top-25 to begin the season.

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 124-97-50 (.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.