FORT MYERS, Fla. - Florida Gulf Coast University men's soccer earned one point with a 2-2 decision against UNF on Saturday.
Shoki Yoshida and
Alon Drey scored the two goals for the Eagles.
"I think we did a really good job in the first half applying pressure and making it difficult for them," head coach
Jesse Cormier said. "We want to come away with three points and to concede so late is a hard pill to swallow. We had a lot of energy, a lot of fight. It was a dogfight from start to finish. I have to look at everything the guys have to go through, and I think they gave a lot to this game."
The match started fast with FGCU applying pressure and forcing turnovers in the offensive half of the pitch. Yoshida was able to break through in the fourth minute on a great build-up play when
Cao Chaves played a long through ball to
Jose Escobar to get him just outside the 18. Escobar crossed the ball towards Yoshida who put the ball back against the keeper's momentum to give the Green and Blue the early 1-0 lead.
The Ospreys used their high press on balls to the outer portions of the field to cause a turnover deep in the Eagles' defensive half. UNF was able to cross the ball towards the near post and was guided along by another Osprey attacker's head to an open goal, allowing the game to a 1-1 tie.
The match would enter the half at that score and would remain a defensive struggle for much of the game before a foul in the box in the 65th minute gave FGCU a kick from the penalty spot. Drey stepped up and slotted it away in the lower 90 for the 2-1 lead.
The Green and Blue would hold the lead for most of the rest of the game before an Osprey corner was taken short and crossed into the box. It snuck just under the crossbar in the 87th minute, forcing the draw.
The Ospreys and Eagles have each earned four points in ASUN play, toward the bottom of qualification for the ASUN postseason. The next match for FGCU is Bellarmine on the road next Saturday.
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