SAN ANTONIO, Texas –  Florida Gulf Coast men's soccer turned in a dominant performance to cap its week in the Lone Star State with a 3-0 win over Incarnate Word on Friday night.

The Eagles (4-4-0) controlled possession throughout and played suffocating defense against the Cardinals (1-4-1), not allowing a shot on goal. It's the first time the Eagles have not allowed a shot on goal since Oct. 9, 2021, when FGCU held Bellarmine without a shot on target. Incarnate Word's two shot attempts is also the lowest total for a FGCU opponent since the same contest with the Knights.

 Additionally, FGCU's plus-15 shot margin is its largest against a Division I opponent since Sept. 16, 2022, when the Eagles outshot Jacksonville by 16.

Javier Brown got the offense started for FGCU in the seventh minute. Lucas Sperner took a corner kick that was played out, but Sperner crossed it in again and Brown outjumped the group to head the ball into the net for his first career goal and put the Eagles up 1-0. 

FGCU continued applying pressure and found the back of the net again in the 26th minute. Aron Martinez fired a shot that bounced off the goalkeeper directly to the feet of Lucas Barsoe, who hammered the ball down into the goal off a double crossbar ricochet for his first goal of the season. Possession strongly favored the Eagles in the first 45 minutes, as FGCU held a 63-37% advantage in time with the ball.

"It was a great game," Barsoe said. "We got the second win of this road trip. Great performance from the boys, we controlled the whole game. I'm happy, I think the boys are happy, the coaches are happy."

Martinez wasted no time to extend FGCU's lead in the second half, as he fired a low rocket off his left foot in the 51st minute past the extended arms of the Cardinals goalkeeper to add an insurance goal for the Eagles. The score was his team-best fourth of the season, which is tied for the second-most goals in the ASUN.

Goalkeeper Eduard Garcia had little to do on the evening, as he did not face a shot on target to post the Eagles' first clean sheet of 2026. Garcia improved to 3-0-0 in net with the victory.

Next, FGCU concludes its second road trip of 2026 when it resumes conference action at Queens at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26.

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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