FGCU M. Soc vs Liberty Recap

After a scoreless first half, the FGCU men's soccer team (7-3-1, 3-1-0 A-SUN) tallied two goals in a little over 20 minutes in the second frame to shut out Liberty (5-5-1, 1-2-2 A-SUN), 2-0, Tuesday night at the FGCU Soccer Complex. With the win, the Eagles now hold sole possession of first place in the A-SUN.

"I was a little surprised because they sat pretty deep and we didn't really have any answers, we weren't really dangerous and they did a great job of taking away space in the first half," said head coach Jesse Cormier. "The guys did a very good job coming out early in the second half and getting behind them. The goal was to get a clean sheet because defensively we've conceded five in the last three games. We were successful in doing that and I thought the guys defended pretty well."

Cormier sent redshirt sophomore Gustavo Vasconcelos between the post while Liberty Jeff Alder sent redshirt freshman Brogan Engbers to counter.

FGCU controlled the majority of the possession in the first half, racking up five shots after the first 25 minutes, with three being denied Engbers. The next closest opportunity would arrive just four minutes before the half as a ball inside the five-yard box settled by redshirt senior Kamar Marriott was secured.

Heading into the second period, FGCU ramped up the offense, firing four shots over an eight-minute period until finally getting on the board in the 54th. Pressuring the Flame's backline, freshman O'Vonte Mullings broke through with a steal 20-yards from the goal, alluding the keeper with a pass to his right to junior Ivan Rosales for the score. This was Rosales' second goal of the year.

In the 69th minute, it was Rosales creating the attack, leading to FGCU's second goal. Playing with space, the Texas native roped a shot that was blocked from about 10-yards out. The rebound fell right in front of Mullings who finished with ease, making it his sixth goal of the year.

Liberty's closest threat came off a set piece in the 83rd minute. Junior Isidoro Garcia sent a curling shot to ' right but a diving Vasconcelos stopped the ball just at the right time and preserved the 2-0 triumph. 

Vasconcelos (5-2-1) would earn his fifth win of the season while collecting his third clean sheet of the season with fives saves.

Engbers (4-4) would earn the loss after giving up both goals with seven saves.

Up Next:

FGCU will hit the road and travel to Orlando, FL to face #19 UCF (8-2-1, 2-1-0 AAC) on Tuesday, October 16 at 7 p.m.