Virginia scored first, 12 minutes in, seemed to be in control, then started losing guys to red cards.
It’s hard to win playing 9-on-11, as the ‘Hoos learned in the 2-1 loss to Florida Gulf Coast on Monday night at Klöckner Stadium.
UVA (1-3-0) got on the board in the 12th minute when AJ Smith found the back of the net on a slick back-heel finish to cap a play set in motion by Alex Parvu and Chase Duke.
The Cavaliers were sent down to 10 men in the 27th minute after video review upgraded a yellow card assessed to Marco Dos Santos to a red.
FGCU (2-2-0) scored on the ensuing free kick – the goal coming from Aron Martinez – to level the score.
The score would remain at 1-1 into the final minutes.
Prince Abanfo was sent off with UVA’s second red card of the game at the 80:12 mark, putting the Cavaliers at a two-man disadvantage.
FGCU netted the winner – on a goal from Michael Ndiweni – five minutes later.
“We were in complete control of the game, scored a goal on our way to probably doing what we did against American. The red card obviously impacted us, but I thought for that period of playing down a man that those guys did a great job of just being disciplined, in their line, and creating a chance or two. I was really proud of that effort,” UVA coach George Gelnovatch said.
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Chris Graham
