CHARLESTON, S.C. – A late Charleston goal was the difference on Sunday night, as the Cougars scored in the 86th minute to prevail 3-2 over FGCU.

The Eagles (0-2-0) were assessed a red card with the game tied 2-2 in the 73rd minute, and had to play the final 17 minutes a man down. FGCU withstood three shot attempts from the Cougars (1-0-1), and managed two of their own, before ceding the go-ahead score to Matt Lenert with four minutes remaining.

FGCU had a final opportunity to equalize with a shot attempt and corner kick in the 87th minute, but Marten Brink made the save for College of Charleston to seal the win.

The Eagles equalized twice in a flurry of first half action to draw to a 2-2 halftime score. Charleston scored in the third minute, but Brooks Beeman answered in the 30th minute with his first goal of the season. 

The Cougars responded quickly to retake the lead three minutes and thirteen seconds after Beeman's score, off the foot of Lenert. Emerson LaOrden then got in on the action, finding the back of the net a blistering 46 seconds later for his first collegiate goal to equalize once more. 

Like the Eagles' first game of the season, Sunday evening's contest was a physical one, with 24 combined fouls, five yellow cards and a red card. The Cougars picked up four first half yellow cards, three of which came after the fourth goal of the period; and Charleston had 15 fouls to FGCU's nine.
 
Each side had a shot saved in the second half prior to the FGCU red card. The Eagles outshot the Cougars 10-6, and had six shots on goal to Charleston's four. 

Next, FGCU hits the midpoint of its season-opening road trip when the Eagles return north to take on Liberty at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28.

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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