FORT MYERS, Fla. – After back-to-back draws in conference play, Florida Gulf Coast men's soccer showed out at Pickering Field with a 3-0 shutout of Lipscomb on Saturday night.

The Eagles struck first just before the halftime break. The Bisons were whistled for a foul in the box, and Aron Martinez scored his seventh goal of the season and his second penalty kick goal of the season to put FGCU up 1-0.  

In the latter 45 minutes, FGCU's (5-5-3, 1-2-2) back line stood firm, warding off eight Lipscomb (3-8-1, 2-3-0) shots before finding the back of the net twice more. Brooks Beeman headed in Rico Felix's cross in the 83rd minute, and Dani Garcia put the exclamation point on the win by finishing a breakaway in the 85th.

"A 3-0 win speaks for itself," head coach Oliver Twelvetrees said postgame. "We've been working on sharing the ball, we've been working on that cohesion … those last two goals were just a perfect example of that. So, great moments, and fantastic to get the first home win of the season. It's a great atmosphere. Thanks to all the fans for coming out, and a good moment."

Martinez's strike moved him into an eight-way tie for the fifth-most goals in a single season in FGCU history. He is assured the best offensive season since O'Vonte Mullings scored seven goals in 2021; with three regular season games remaining, Martinez sits one tally behind Shak Adams, who scored eight goals in 2018, and two behind Mullings' 2019 campaign, when he posted nine goals. Mullings and Adams currently occupy sole possession of third and fourth in the Eagles' single-season goals record book, respectively.

Martinez now leads the ASUN in goals, shots (35), and shots on goal (18), and is tied for the conference lead with 17 points. His three assists rank tied for seventh. Felix, who assisted Beeman's goal, is tied for second in the ASUN with four assists. Meanwhile, Beeman moved into second on the squad and a tie for sixth in the conference with his fourth goal of the season.

"That was a huge goal for us," Beeman said. "We really needed that second goal in this game. We've been struggling to get that second goal. Most of our games we scored and we scored first, and we've really needed to get that second goal. As soon as we got that second goal, the momentum was flowing and we got that easy goal to finish the game with Dani."

The Eagles converted two of their three second half shot attempts after tilting the field in the first half with 14 shots to Lipscomb's six. Although the Bisons finished with 14 shots, only a free kick from just outside the box found its way on goal for Harvey Sellers to make the save. 

FGCU improved to 10-2-0 at home all-time against the Bisons with the victory. Next, the Eagles return to the road for a crucial test at Central Arkansas at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 17. 

For more information on FGCU men's soccer, follow @FGCU_MSoccer on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook, and visit fgcuathletics.com.
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