FORT MYERS, Fla. – Playing the final 25 minutes with just ten men on the field, the Central Arkansas men's soccer team survived a high-octane matchup against Florida Gulf Coast. The 1-1 finish keeps the Bears in the race for a spot in the ASUN Championship as the team adds another point to the table.
 
The result moves the Bears to 2-7-4, with a 1-2-3 swing in ASUN matches. With just a single conference match left on the schedule, Central Arkansas sits in a tie with Queens for the final spot in the tournament, holding the tiebreaker over the Royals. Pietro Fontana scored his 11^th goal of the season, becoming the 11^th player in program history to reach the mark.
 
In a game that featured one of the conference's best offenses in Central Arkansas and one of the best defenses in FGCU, the stats sure didn't back up that narrative. From the onset, the Eagles were the aggressors offensively, putting a couple of shots on goal in the first three minutes. FGCU was in a constant state of pressure, moving the ball forward with precision and usually getting a chance at a cross or a shot. But the Bear defense held firm, bending as much as necessary without breaking to allow opportunities for quick transition plays and counterattacks.
 
Twenty minutes in, Lucas Shearer put a shot on target, taking major contact in the process, but the play continued as the FGCU keeper stayed in front of the attempt. The Bears would take five shots in the first half, compared to 15 by the Eagles, but the scoreboard remained empty with the passing of the first half.
 
Fontana nearly opened the second half with a score, but his shot drifted off target. Then, ten minutes into the second half, the Eagles found a goal, driving up the left side of the field and crossing it in for a waiting player to finish the score. But the Bears would answer right back, clearing a ball deep into the attacking third that allowed Fontana to run onto it in a one-on-one situation. Breaking his man down, the sophomore forward cleared just enough space to get a shot up and over a diving keeper, leveling the match with his 11^th goal of the season.
 
It was shortly after that when the Bears would go down a player after a red card, setting up a potentially bad situation for the remaining ten. But instead of folding and giving up a goal to the home team, Central Arkansas readjusted, regaining its composure and playing on with even more intensity. There were times in the second half where it was almost impossible to notice that the Bears were down a man, as the Bears drove into the heart of the defense to create scoring opportunities. Sure, the score held through the final whistle, but down a man on the road is a nearly impossible task, and the Bears made it seem as though they had a full squad.
 
Javier Ramirez, making his first start of the season, was spectacular in goal. Facing a season-high 24 shots, with 11 on goal, the sophomore keeper made ten saves, the first double-digit tally of the season. He was terrific coming off his line to pick off crosses, getting into the mix of things on corner kicks, and directed the defense well.
 
Central Arkansas makes a pit stop at Oral Roberts on Tuesday of next week before hosting North Florida for senior day next Saturday. Kickoff in Tulsa, Okla., is scheduled for 6 p.m.