Redemption is the motive surrounding the FGCU men’s soccer team entering the 2024 season. The Eagles had a disappointing 3-7-5 record last season, causing them to miss the postseason for the first time in program history. With an experienced roster, they look to flip this narrative.
An aspect that hurt the team throughout last season was the number of freshmen on their roster. They had the same number of freshmen as senior and graduate students, which set them back with their lack of experience playing at the collegiate level.
The inexperience showed during the season; they had 11 games tied or lost by one point. Through mistakes, they gave up crucial goals, which made the difference in winning numerous games.
“I thought we played some of our best football last year in the season, just so dominant, but we couldn’t score,” Head Coach Jesse Cormier said. “Our opponents have had a little edge on this, and we’re looking to rectify that we’re looking to have the right people in those situations in those moments.”
Luckily, many seniors are returning as graduate students to play one final season. With many players having already played together for multiple seasons, they are eyeing a return for the postseason.
They added 13 new players to the team, including eight transfers and five freshmen. They acquired five midfielders, three defenders, two forwards and two goalkeepers, filling the holes left open by the players who graduated or transferred last season.“It’s definitely a turning point now where we get more of a younger side,” senior Captain Lucas Windschauer said. “I think that’s a good thing because they are controlling the future of what the school will become. It’s a rotation of players.”
The Eagles will play 16 games over four months. Their season starts with two exhibition matches. On Aug. 13, they face the Florida International University Panthers on the road and welcome the Miami Dade College Sharks on Aug. 17 in front of their home crowd.
“[The fans] are invested in this experience and in many ways are very important to be on the journey with us,” Cormier said. “We want to have that access and have them feel like we’re accessible, as in representing them.”
After their two exhibition games, the Eagles start a four-match road stretch to begin their regular season. Over the course of two weeks, they will face off against Elon University, North Carolina State University, Georgia Southern University and the University of South Florida from Aug. 25 to Sept. 6. Their only non-conference home match is against the Utah Valley University Wolverines on Sept. 8, for their home opener. They play the High Point University Panthers in High Point, NC, on Sept. 15 for their final non-conference match before conference play begins.
Pickering Field at the FGCU Soccer Complex will host the Eagles’ first conference game against the Jacksonville University Dolphins on Sept. 21. Then, they play the Stetson University Hatters on Sept. 28 before attempting to complete a Sunshine State trifecta against the University of North Florida Ospreys at home on Oct. 5.
The Eagles succeeded against this trio of teams last season, tying the Dolphins 2-2 and defeating the Hatters 4-0 and the Ospreys 2-1. This was the calm before the storm for the team as they tied two games and lost three straight over the following five games.
FGCU heads back on the road versus the Bellarmine University Knights on Oct.12 before hosting back-to-back home games. The Eagles play cross-state rivals the Florida Atlantic University Owls for their last non-conference game of the season. They stay at home to play the defending ASUN Conference Champions, Lipscomb University, on Oct. 19.
“Obviously, Lipscomb has had our number,” Cormier said. “We beat them two years ago and they got us this past year. They’ve been in the seat we want to be in. We got to knock them off.”
For their final road game of the season, the Eagles will travel to Conway, Ark., to face the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears on Oct. 25. They will then host the Queens University of Charlotte Royals on Nov. 2 to end the regular season.
The 2024 ASUN Men’s Soccer Championship begins on Nov. 9, with the six teams with the best conference record advancing to it. The Eagles aim to make their return to the postseason after missing out on it in 2023. They added talent over the offseason to chase after that goal; all they can do now is wait for the season to start.
“We can play but we don’t get the results we deserve, said Graduate Student Captain Jahvanie Hammond.” “It’s time to turn the script. It’s time to win more games. I believe we have the people for it.”
