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Spartanburg, S.C. – Albert Ruiz scored two goals and added one assist as the 22nd-ranked Florida Gulf Coast Eagles defeated the USC Upstate men's soccer team 4-0 Saturday evening from County University Soccer Stadium on Senior Night.
Upstate falls to 5-5-1 overall and 1-2-1 in the conference, while Florida Gulf Coast improves to 6-3-3 on the season and 4-0-1 in league play.
Despite the loss, the Spartans clinched the fourth spot in the 2015 A-Sun Men's Soccer Championship as Jacksonville lost at North Florida 1-0. Upstate's opponent will be determined following the regular season finales next Saturday.
The Eagles notched four second half goals with Ruiz scoring the first and last. His penalty kick in the 64th minute gave FGCU a 1-0 lead. With just 15 seconds left in the match, Ruiz posted his second goal of the contest with his header as Skylar Wilks and Kamar Marriott each had the assist. Ruiz added an assist in the 68th minute on David Robledo's goal for his first of the season to put the Eagles ahead 2-0. Wilks collected his third goal of the season in the 87th minute, giving FGCU a 3-0 lead, off Miguel Jamie's through ball.
Tucker Beerman and Gordon Wild looked to give the Spartans the lead first during the opening half on three different chances. Beerman tried to put Upstate in front in the 2nd minute of play with his header off Wild's corner kick, but went wide. Just before the half, Wild's shot in the 45th minute was saved by FGCU goalie Nathan Ingham. Beerman attempted again less than 20 seconds later with another header, but sailed high of the goal.
The Spartans tallied six shots in the second half only to be held scoreless as Ingham collected three of his four saves.
Wild had a team-high five shots, including two on-goal, for Upstate while Beerman added three. Hassan Haddad contributed three saves in goal.
Ruiz compiled three shots for Florida Gulf Coast with two coming on-goal.
The Spartans close out their regular season Saturday, Oct. 31 as they travel to Jacksonville, Fla. to face North Florida at 8 p.m.
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