FORT MYERS, Fla. – The second-seeded FGCU men's soccer team (9-7-2) produced a 2-1 result over third-seeded UNF (6-8-2) Sunday afternoon at the FGCU Soccer Complex.

The win advances the Eagles to the ASUN Championship match for the first time since 2016 against top-seeded NJIT (9-4-4). The match will take place in Newark, N.J. next Saturday with a time to be determined.

"Just remarkable character by the guys today. It was a difficult and physical game," said head coach Jesse Cormier. "It was on us to keep our identity and be clear on who we are to continue to play the way we do and eventually we got a break in the second half with a goal. I'm very proud of them today, it was not an easy task to do."

Ivan Rosales (Houston, Texas/San Jacinto) put FGCU on the board just five minutes into the match. The senior collected a pass from Shak Adams (Antioch, Tenn./Cane Ridge HS) and then fired from 25 yards out to find the back of the net for his fifth goal of the year. With the assist, Adams is now the program's record holder with 16 career helpers to his name.

North Florida would find the equalizer in the 12th minute as both squads were all knotted up going into the break. At the intermission, FGCU held a 5-1 shot advantage over UNF.

In the opening 15 minutes of the second stanza, FGCU launched four shots as the offense cranked up. The persistent attack finally paid off in the 71st minute. Ryan Medilah (Paris, France/San Jacinto) played a ball from midfield over to O'Vonte Mullings (Toronto, Ontario/Northview Heights Secondary HS), who was able to squeeze past a pair of defenders for the near-post finish. Minutes later UNF tried to level with a header in the box but Kareem Riley (Couva, Trinidad & Tobago/Presentation College San Fernando) was right on top of the line for the clearing save.

Down the stretch, both clubs played with 10 men after each side was issued a red card in the final five minutes. Connor Gavigan (Aurora, Colo./Creighton) capped off his day with a save in the 89th minute to secure the 2-1 victory for FGCU. Rosales registered three shots with two on frame. The Eagles' defense yielded just six shots with three coming on target.


Assists
1. 16 - Shak Adams - 2016-present
2. 15 - Josey PORTILLO - 2008-11
3. 14 - Arion SOBERS-ASSUE - 2014-17
4. 12 - Francesco DiSTEFANO - 2008-11
5. 11 - Andres NAVAS - 2009-12
    11 - Dennis ZAPATA - 2015-18
7. 10 - Deion JONES - 2009-12
8. 9 - Miguel Perez - 2016-present
9 - Skylar WILKS - 2013-15
9 - Miguel JAIME - 2014-17
9 - William MORSE - 2009-12

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 26-18-7 (.570) record overall, including a 13-3-2 mark (.778) 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 140-107-54 (.553) record as a head coach in his fourteen plus seasons at the helm.

ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 80 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.