FORT MYERS, Fla. – A pair of Mercer (2-2-0) goals in the first half proved the difference maker as the Bears defeated the FGCU (0-2-1) men's soccer team, 2-0, on Sunday evening on Pickering Field at the FGCU Soccer Complex. The Eagles will return to action next Saturday, Sept. 11 at UCF (1 PM).
 
"All credit goes to Mercer - they had a good plan and executed it very well. They did what they needed to do to be successful and we didn't," said head coach Jesse Cormier. "We had some quality chances early to build a lead but couldn't capitalize. We have to be better in front of goal, have better leadership to maintain a higher level of team discipline, and just be more committed overall to the process of being collectively successful. Training this week will be important."
 
Statistically, the match was fairly even with FGCU holding a 15-to-10 edge in shots, though Mercer was able to put six on target including the two goals while the Eagles had four on frame. The Green and Blue earned six corners compared to four for the Bears.
 
Mercer opened the scoring in the 23^rd minute as Dylan Gaither sent a bending strike from 23 yards out that tucked just inside the far post. FGCU sophomore keeper Wyatt Kistner (Midlothian, Va./Cosby HS), who earned his first career start, made a diving attempt but the ball dipped just under his outstretched arms.
 
The Bears tacked on an insurance goal in the 36^th minute after a re-start following a foul at midfield. The service inside the top of the 18-yard box was deflected to the feet of Chad Eldridge who sent a low, fast shot towards the near post. The shot got through traffic to the foot of Kadeem Agard who re-directed into the goal from five yards out.
 
The Eagles had a pair of quality chances in the second half with junior Davi Alves (Belo Horizonte, Brazil/Celso Machado HS/West Florida) having a shot in the 62^nd minute and again in the 75^th minute, but Mercer keeper Brant Zulauf was able to save both.
 
In the final 12 minutes of play, FGCU managed four more shots, but were unable to put them on target. In the 85^th minute, the Eagles earned a corner after some nifty combination passing in transition. Graduate Trevin Myers (Lehigh Acres, Fla./Riverdale HS/Chowan University) was able to head a shot towards the goal, however, it was cleared out of the six-yard box by a Mercer defender.

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. You can also sign-up to have news on FGCU men's soccer and all 15 sport programs delivered directly to your inbox by visiting www.fgcuathletics.com/email.

HEAD COACH JESSE CORMIER
Jesse Cormier enters his fifth year as head coach of the FGCU men's soccer program in the fall of 2021 after being hired in January of 2017 to become just the 2nd head coach in program history. Cormier has guided FGCU to a 29-24-12 (.547) record overall, including a 15-5-4 mark (.708) in ASUN play. The Eagles have reached the ASUN Tournament semifinals for nine-straight seasons (every year of eligibility), as Cormier has coached 28 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 143-112-58 (.551) record as a head coach in his 16-plus seasons at the helm.

#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April 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 85 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 14+ seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just nine seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 42 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Eight FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including women's basketball (No. 21, 2020-21), beach volleyball (No. 20, 2021) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as three of the most recent. 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. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.50 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 24 consecutive semesters. The 2019 Fall, 2020 Spring, 2020 Fall, and 2021 Spring semesters each saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher team GPA in each. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 - being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl. 
  
--FGCUATHLETICS.COM--