FORT MYERS, Fla. –  Aron Martinez found the back of the net early on Tuesday night for Florida Gulf Coast men's soccer, but FIU controlled the rest of the contest en route to a 4-2 win.

Martinez tallied his fifth goal of the season in the 10th minute after Marco Santana played a ball up the right wing. Martinez took two dribbles, then delivered a scalding shot to the top left corner to put FGCU up 1-0. His five goals already matches the five goals Salvador Martinez and Caio Oliveira each had to lead the Eagles in scoring in 2025, and brings him to a tie for the second-most goals in the ASUN this season.

The Panthers (4-3-2) quickly worked back into the game. The American Conference's leading goal scorer, Santi Possu, scored his seventh goal of the season with a brilliant one-touch finish in the box off a pass from Mateo Stickler. 

Martin Piedeleu continued applying offensive pressure for FIU, posting a brace with goals in the 28th and 33rd minutes to give the Panthers a 3-1 lead. FIU outshot FGCU 9-4 in the first half.

The southwest Florida sky opened up with a steady rain as the second half began, but it didn't slow down the fast-paced Panthers' offense. Owen Barnett capped FIU's scoring in the 61st minute with his second goal of 2026 to give the Panthers a 4-1 lead. 

Even trailing by three goals, FGCU (4-5-1) continued applying pressure and eventually found another opportunity. Jai Sahni crossed the ball to the middle of the pitch well outside of the box in the 75th minute, and Dani Garcia took a quick look at the goal before rocketing his first career Division I score to the top left of the net. The 4-2 score held for the final as neither team scored in the final 15 minutes.

Next, FGCU returns to conference action and continues its homestand at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, against Bellarmine.

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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