FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU men's soccer team (7-6-2, 3-0-1 ASUN) closed out its non-conference slate with a 1-0 win over #17 Charlotte (8-2-4, 3-0-3 C-USA) Tuesday night at the FGCU Soccer Complex.

It's the first win over a ranked opponent at home since the Eagles defeated #24 Omaha 3-2 in 2017. Meanwhile, it's the highest-ranked opponent to go down at the Nest since 2010 when FGCU downed #5 Ohio State 1-0.  

"Last year we played the same team and they outshot us 26-1. They had 11 on goal and we had none," said head coach Jesse Cormier. "We wanted to make a much better account of who we are and how we play. They're a very good team, one of the best in the country and we needed to have a very special effort from multiple guys. It was a team effort and I'm excited to have that kind of form heading into the last few games. The end of October and November is when you really need to start coming in form so tonight's performance was encouraging."

It was a close first half battle between the Eagles and the 49ers as each team posted three shots in the first period. The shot and eventual game-winner though arrived in the 33rd minute off the foot of Miguel Perez (Caracas, Venezuela/Cypress Bay HS), his first of the year. Inside the six-yard box, Perez fought for positioning settling a touch pass from Alex Guichard (Plantation, Fla./University of Charleston) to tuck it away past the keeper's near post. It was Guichard's first helper of the season.
At the break, the Green and Blue held a 3-0 corner kick advantage. Each side recorded one save.

In the second stanza, the Eagles' backline clamped down and held Charlotte to just five shots with only one coming on frame. FGCU continued to press looking for the added cushion as the attack up front manufactured nine shots (four on frame). Ivan Rosales (Houston, Texas/San Jacinto) launched five shots, putting three on target as he registered a game-high six shots. Each of four shots on goal in the second period came off the right boot of the senior forward.

All said FGCU outshot the 17th-ranked 49ers 12-8 and edged them in corner kicks, 6-4. Starting keeper Connor Gavigan (Aurora, Colo./Creighton) moves to 4-2-0 as he secured two saves (one in each half).

Up Next
FGCU will host NJIT (6-4-4, 3-1-0 ASUN) this Saturday night on Senior Night. The pregame ceremony is slated to start 30 minutes prior to the 7 p.m. kickoff.

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 completed his second 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 24-17-7 (.563) record overall, including a 12-2-2 mark (.812) in ASUN play. The Eagles have reached the ASUN Tournament semifinals for eight-straight seasons (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 138-106-54 (.552) record as a head coach in his fourteen plus seasons at the helm.

ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 78 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 11+ seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just seven+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 36 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including both men's soccer, women's soccer, and women's basketball again in 2018-19. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in spring 2018 and have outpaced their institution's undergraduate student body GPA each of the past 20 semesters. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours - being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl in 2017.