Florida Gulf Coast men defeat Lipscomb

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Florida Gulf Coast University men’s soccer team scored two unanswered goals in the final minutes of the game to pick up a 2-1 win over Atlantic Sun Conference opponent, Lipscomb, on Sunday afternoon.

With the win, FGCU improves to 5-5-1 on the year with a 3-1-0 Atlantic Sun Conference record of 3-1-0.   

Lipscomb moves to 3-8-1 on the season with an A-Sun record of 0-3-1.

The Eagles fell behind 1-0 in the first half, when Lipscomb’s Miguel DaSilva received a pass from the right and sent a shot from five yards out into the back of the net.

FGCU wouldn’t respond in the first half and headed into the intermission trailing in both shots, 3-4 and on the scoreboard 1-0.

The Eagles came out looking like a different team in the second half recording the first seven shots of the half.

With the time winding down, FGCU was finally able to find the back of the net as Sophomore Cristian Raudales (Bradenton, Fla.) sent a header into goal off a corner kick by Sophomore Francesco DiStefano (Kissimmee, Fla.) in the 88th minute.

The 1-1 score would be short lived as DiStefano would tally his second assist of the match by finding Sophomore Arjun Jani (Sarasota, Fla.) for the game winning goal in the 90th minute, off a free kick from 35 yards out.

“I’m proud of the overall effort of our team today,” said head coach Bob Butehorn. “Today’s heat really made it difficult for both teams to play at a high level.”

The Eagles recorded 10 shots, with four shots on goal, and five corners in the outing. Junior goalkeeper Matthew Smith (Cape Canaveral, Fla.) registered three saves in the game.

Lipscomb would take five shots, with four shots on goal, and five corners.

“Lipscomb is a much better team than their record indicates, so we’re happy to come away with three points,” said coach Butehorn following the game.

The Eagles will now hit the road as they travel to take on the Buccaneers of East Tennessee State University on Friday, October 16th at 4 p.m.