Liberty Downs FGCU for 4th Straight Victory

Grayson Gardner and Michael Catanzarite each scored goals, as the Liberty Flames defeated the FGCU Eagles 2-1 for their fourth consecutive victory, Saturday evening at Osborne Stadium.

The Flames improve to 4-3 overall and 2-0 in ASUN play. The Eagles drop to 1-4-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

Scoring Summary

26’ – LIBERTY – Grayson Gardner (Assisted by Noah Holmes)

71’ – LIBERTY – Michael Catanzarite (Assisted by Michael Huss and Gora Gora)

85’ – FGCU – Jahvanie Hammond (Unassisted)

Turning Point

With Liberty leading 1-0 during the 71^st minute, Flames midfielder Gora Gora stripped the ball from an FGCU player in the center of the field and pushed the ball ahead into space for forward Michael Huss. Drawing the remaining Eagles defender near the top of the 18-yard box, Huss sent a pass to the left side to place Catanzarite one-on-one with FGCU goalkeeper Gustavo Vasconcelos. The freshman forward buried a shot from the top left corner of the box into the net giving the Flames a 2-0 advantage. Liberty then had to hold off a late charge by FGCU to seal the win.

Key Stats & Notes

• FGCU held a 10-9 edge over Liberty in shots. However, it was a tale of two halves, as the Flames outshot the Eagles, 5-2, in the first half, while FGCU held an 8-4 advantage in the second.
• Liberty put four shots on goal in the contest. FGCU recorded two shots on goal. The Eagles held a 9-5 advantage over the Flames in corner kicks.
• Gardner scored the first goal of his collegiate career in the contest.
• Catanzarite netted his second goal of the season and has now pointed in each of the last four games. The freshman forward also scored a goal in Liberty’s 2-1 home win over Gardner-Webb on Sept. 14, while assisting on goals in victories over Radford and Stetson during the span.
• Freshman goalkeeper Richard Franzen recorded one save in the contest for the Flames. Vasconcelos made two saves for the Eagles.
• For the first time since joining the ASUN in 2018, Liberty has started conference play with a 2-0 record.
• Liberty defeats FGCU for the first time in program history. The two teams have only met as members of the ASUN Conference with the Eagles taking the previous two meetings from the Flames.
• The Flames have won both of their home games, this season. Liberty has played five of its first seven contests on the road and will play seven of its first nine matches of the year away from Osborne Stadium.

Up Next

Liberty returns to the road for a non-conference match against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Tuesday. Kickoff at Spry Stadium is set for 7 p.m.

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