FORT MYERS, Fla. – The No. 18-ranked FGCU men's soccer team hosts Seton Hall Friday night in its home-opener as Georgia Southern comes in Sunday afternoon.
Prior to kickoff, FGCU will have a pregame ceremony celebrating the team's 2018 ASUN regular season title. The match is also a "Green Out'.
The Green and Blue
The Eagles are coming off a 4-3 win over then-ranked No. 13 Michigan and a 1-1 double overtime draw over Michigan State (2018 NCAA College Cup participant), who was ranked No. 7. Against the Wolverines, senior midfielder Ryan Medilah (Paris, France/San Jacinto) netted the program's sixth overall hat trick and had one assist. His performance led him to be named National Player of the Week by both United Soccer Coaches/NCAA and College Soccer News.
Medilah leads the Eagles with seven points while Ivan Rosales (Houston, Texas/San Jacinto) has netted a pair of goals (four points). Tuesday afternoon, FGCU went from receiving no votes in the preseason to being dubbed the No. 18 team in the country in the United Soccer Coaches poll.
Scouting the Pirates
Stephen Elias leads Seton Hall with three goals in 66 minutes as the Pirates are coming off a 6-0 win over Central Connecticut State last Friday. JP Martin dished out two helpers in that match. In net, Andreas Nota played all 90 minutes, coming away with three saves while facing eight shots.
This will be the first meeting between both clubs.
Scouting the Eagles
Georgia Southern is coming off two road wins over UNC Wilmington (4-2) and the College of Charleston (2-0). Alhaji Tambadu leads the bunch with three goals while Adam Davie has netted a pair. Meanwhile, Aldair Cortes has recorded two assists. Between the posts, Jokul Blaengsson has started both matches playing the full 90 minutes each outing, securing eight saves.
This will be the second meeting between both programs as FGCU defeated Georgia Southern on the road last year 2-0. Joao Burti (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Iowa Western) scored in that match with a goal in the 58th minute to secure the win.
FGCU Record Book
Points
| 1. |
|
76 - Albert RUIZ (34g 8a) - 2014-17 |
| 2. |
|
50 - Shak Adams (19g 12a) - 2016-present |
| 3. |
|
43 - Cristian RAUDALES (19g 5a) - 2008-11 |
| 4. |
|
38 - Felipe DeSOUSA (18g 2a) - 2012-14 |
|
|
38 - Arion SOBERS-ASSUE (12g 14a) - 2014-17 |
| 6. |
|
32 - Dylan SACRAMENTO (12g 8a) - 2015-17 |
| 7. |
|
31 - Dennis ZAPATA (10g 11a) - 2015-18 |
|
|
31 - Josey PORTILLO (8g 15a) - 2008-11 |
| 9. |
|
30 - Francesco DiSTEFANO (9g 12a) - 2008-11 |
|
|
30 - Scott HARRISON (12g 6a) - 2008-11 |
Goals
| 1. |
|
34 - Albert RUIZ - 2014-17 |
| 2. |
|
19 - Cristian RAUDALES - 2008-11 |
|
|
19 - Shak Adams - 2016-present |
| 4. |
|
18 - Felipe DeSOUSA - 2012-14 |
| 5. |
|
13 - Henry PENAGOS - 2010-14 |
| 6. |
|
12 - Scott HARRISON - 2008-11 |
|
|
12 - Dylan SACRAMENTO - 2015-17 |
|
|
12 - Arion SOBERS-ASSUE - 2014-17 |
| 9. |
|
10 - Xavier SILVA - 2011-14 |
|
|
10 - Dennis ZAPATA - 2015-18 |
Assists
| 1. |
|
15 - Josey PORTILLO - 2008-11 |
| 2. |
|
14 - Arion SOBERS-ASSUE - 2014-17 |
| 3. |
|
12 - Francesco DiSTEFANO - 2008-11 |
|
|
12 - Shak Adams - 2016-present |
| 5. |
|
11 - Dennis ZAPATA - 2015-18 |
|
|
11 - Andres NAVAS - 2009-12 |
| 7. |
|
10 - Deion JONES - 2009-12 |
| 8. |
|
9 - William MORSE - 2009-12 |
|
|
9 - Miguel JAIME - 2014-17 |
|
|
9 - Skylar WILKS - 2013-15 |
Game-winning goals
| 1. |
|
8 - Felipe DeSOUSA - 2012-14 |
| 2. |
|
7 - Shak Adams - 2016-present |
| 3. |
|
6 - Cristian RAUDALES - 2008-11 |
| 4. |
|
5 - Xavier SILVA - 2011-14 |
|
|
5 - Albert RUIZ - 2014-17 |
|
|
5 - Henry PENAGOS - 2010-14 |
| 7. |
|
4 - Arion SOBERS-ASSUE - 2014-17 |
|
|
4 - Robert FERRER - 2015-17 |
|
|
4 - Santiago ECHEVERRI - 2011-14 |
|
|
4 - Francesco DiSTEFANO - 2008-11 |
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 18-11-6 (.594) record overall, including a 9-2-2 mark (.773) 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 132-100-53 (.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.
