ATLANTA – With the 2019 campaign just over a week from kicking off, the FGCU men's soccer team was picked second in the ASUN preseason coaches' poll on Wednesday. Forward Shak Adams was dubbed the Preseason Player of the Year while Gustavo Vasconcelos was installed the league's Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.

Additionally, Kareem Riley and O'Vonte Mullings joined the aforementioned duo on the preseason all-conference team. The four selections were tied for a league-high with Lipscomb, who was picked to win the conference.

"The preseason selections are always flattering for each player and the program," said head coach Jesse Cormier. "But they are also completely subjective based on the past. We try to focus on today and what we can do to improve our team. Each individual will make us better and more competitive as we look to build into becoming a team everyone associated with our program can be proud of."

Adams (Antioch, Tenn./Cane Ridge HS) spearheaded the Eagles' offensive attack in 2018 with team-bests in goals (eight) and assists (eight) for 24 points – third most in a single season in program history. The speedy front-line attacker launched 29 shots with 18 on goal for a team-high .621 shot-on-goal percentage. Adams is coming off a season which he earned ASUN First Team honors while also garnering a spot on the Second Team All-Atlantic Region.

Vasconcelos (Recife, Brazil/Colegio GGE) logged over 1,200 minutes in net last season as he went 8-3-2 overall with three clean sheets. The 2018 ASUN Goalkeeper of the year led the conference in save percentage (.839) and goals against average (0.84). All said in the 13 games he started, the Brazil native secured 61 saves.

Mullings (Toronto, Ontario/ Northview Heights Secondary) is coming off a season in which he nabbed ASUN Freshman of the Year honors – the first since Isaiah Madrid in 2013 and the fourth Eagle overall to capture such feat. His seven goals and four assists were good for second on the team. He delivered a team-high 43 shots as 26 came on target. Just like Adams, by season's end, Mullings landed a spot on the Second Team All-Atlantic Region. The Toronto native appeared in all 16 matches for the Eagles in 2018, starting 14 of them.

Riley (Couva, Trinidad and Tobago/Presentation College San Fernando) in 12 matches last year with eight starts, logged over 700 minutes between the Eagle's backline and midfield. He capped off the season tied for second on the team with four assists, as he took a total of 12 shots with four coming on goal.

The Eagles will be battle-tested right from the start as they open on the road against No. 24 Michigan on Wednesday, Aug. 30. Two days later, they head down to East Lansing to face No. 7 Michigan State before their home-opener at the Nest against Seton Hall on Friday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.

2019 ASUN Men's Soccer Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year: Shak Adams (FGCU)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Ian McCauley (Stetson)
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year: Gustavo Vasconcelos (FGCU)

All-Conference Team
GK – Gustavo Vasconcelos, FGCU
D – Austin Eager, Lipscomb
D – Noah Gulden, Lipscomb
D – Gabriel Diniz, Stetson
D – Ian McCauley, Stetson
MF – Kareem Riley, FGCU
MF – Steven Saunders, Jacksonville
MF – Ben Locke, Lipscomb
MF – John Wynia, Lipscomb
F – * Shak Adams, FGCU
F – O'Vonte Mullings, FGCU
* denotes unanimous selection to preseason all-conference team.

Coaches' Poll
1. Lipscomb (6) - 47 points
2. FGCU - 42 points
3. Jacksonville (1) - 28 points
4. Liberty - 26 points
5. Stetson - 22 points
6. UNF - 17 points
7. NJIT- 14 points

Fall Sports Single-Game, Season and Group Tickets On Sale
Single game tickets for volleyball, men's soccer and women's soccer are on sale now. Prices are $7 for adults and $5 for military/veterans (with ID) and youth (age 15 and under).

Season tickets (entry to each home game) are $55 for volleyball and women's soccer and $40 for men's soccer. Group tickets are $7 for groups of 15 or more and will include reserved seats, group recognition, a group activity and choice of FGCU gear or food. Fall Frequent Flyer passes, which includes a total of 30 entries to all three sports, are just $99.

For all inquiries, you can visit FGCUtickets.com, call 239-590-7145 or stop by the ticket office, which is open daily Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and one hour prior to all home events.

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 17-11-5 (.594) record overall, including a 9-2-2 mark (.773) in ASUN play. The Eagles have reached the ASUN Tournament semifinals for 8th-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 131-100-52 (.553) record as a head coach in his fourteen plus seasons at the helm.

#FEEDFGCU
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 awareness.

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.
 
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