MIAMI (December 5, 2017) – The accolades keep rolling in for the FIU men's soccer program in the heels of one of the most successful season's in the program's storied history, as four Panthers were named to the 2017 United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Team. Junior forward Santiago Patino (Orlando, Florida/Freedom), senior midfielder Paul Marie (Saint-Aubin-des-Bois, France) and sophomore midfielder Joris Ahlinvi (Gujan-Mestras, France) were all named first-team selections, while Marvin Hezel (Waldshut, Germany), a defender and graduate student, was named to the second team.

"This is great for the guys and our program, said FIU men's soccer Head Coach Kevin Nylen. "I'm pleased to see them be recognized by coaches across the country."
 
Patino, who was recently named a semifinalist for the prestigious Hermann Trophy – given to the top Division I male and female soccer players in the country, was one of the most prolific offensive players in America during the 2017 season. Patino ended the regular season leading Conference USA in almost all offensive categories, including goals, points, goals-per-game, points-per-game, and game-winners. He was tabbed C-USA Offensive Player of the Week five times on the year, and was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Year, Player of the Year, the Golden Boot Award recipient, and was named First-Team All-C-USA.
 
On the year, he tallied a total of 35 points and 15 goals, the most the program has seen by an individual player since 1996. He led the nation in goals-per-game and points-per-game for several weeks throughout the season, including top-five rankings in total points and goals. His success on the pitch assisted the Panthers in leading the nation in scoring offense for a majority of the 2017 campaign.
 
Patino tallied 10 multi-point matches this season, and four multi-goal affairs, including a three-goal outing against Marshall in a 4-0 win on Oct. 7.
 
Marie was an offensive force to be reckoned with himself and one of the veteran leaders on the FIU roster this season. A First Team All-Conference USA selection and a two-time C-USA Player of the Week pick in 2017, Marie finished the year second on the team in points with 22 (8g, 6a), and in the top five in C-USA in multiple offensive categories, including points, goals, points-per-game (1.50), goals-per-game (0.50), assists and assists-per-game (0.35).
 
He logged multiple points in eight matches, including a five-point effort (2g, 1a) at South Carolina on Oct. 14 in a 5-2 win. Marie also scored the lone goal in the Conference USA Tournament semifinal match against Charlotte on Nov. 10 and in the NCAA Tournament second round match at Duke on Nov. 19, and assisted on both goals in the Panthers' 2-0 NCAA first-round tournament win over Omaha on Nov. 16.
 
Ahlinvi, a First Team All-Conference USA selection this year, finished fourth on the team in scoring this season with 14 points (4g, 6a) and tied for third in assists (6). He was also tied for third in C-USA in assists and was third in assists-per-game (0.62), was sixth in points-per-game (0.93) and 10^th in points scored.
Ahlinvi logged multiple points in five matches, including a three-point effort (1g, 1a) against North Florida on Sept. 26 in a 5-0 win.
 
Hezel, a Second-Team All-Conference USA selection this season, was also tabbed a Second-Team All-Southeast Region pick, and was a major factor in the Panthers' success on the defensive side of the field this season. A key defender, he led FIU to five shutouts, including three clean sheets during an eight-match winning streak. During that streak, the Panthers allowed just eight goals. Also a threat offensively, Hezel totaled seven points (3g, 1a) in 18 games. He led FIU into overtime, scoring with only 25 seconds left in regulation during the 4-3 win at FGCU on Oct. 10, and gave FIU a 2-1 the lead with only nine minutes left when he scored during the 2-2 draw at Kentucky on Oct. 29.
 
This season the Panthers posted a 12-2-4 record and a 6-0-2 mark in Conference USA, earning their first-ever C-USA regular season title. The Blue and Gold finished the regular season with an 11-0-4 record, the first time in school history that the Panthers recorded an undefeated regular season. FIU was also one of only two teams in Division I men's soccer to accomplish the feat, joining Indiana.
 
The Panthers advanced to their 19^th NCAA Championship, and their 11^th at Division I, winning their first-round game against Omaha. 
 
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