Final Box Score

The Florida International University women's soccer team dropped their Sun Belt Conference opener, 2-0, to MIddle Tennessee in Murfreesboro on Friday evening.

It was the third-straight loss for the Golden Panthers and their first loss to the Blue Raiders in five meetings. FIU fell to 1-7 overall and 0-1 in the conference, while MIddle Tennessee improved to 5-5 overall and 1-0 in the Sun Belt.

Laura Miguez and Rebecca Rodriguez each tallied a first-half goal for Middle Tennessee in a very physical match that included two red cards and a yellow cards at Blue Raider Field.

The two teams played an extremely physical match that included 47 fouls, including 25 on the visitors. In the 83rd minute each team received a red card after a fight broke out between two FIU players and one Middle Tennessee player.

The win is the first conference shutout for the Blue Raiders since joining the Sun Belt in 2000, and also marks the first conference-opening victory for Middle Tennessee since joining the SBC.

The Blue Raiders got on the board in the 13th minute when Christina Mascaro crossed a ball into the box. Miguez blasted a shot off FIU keeper Juliana Gomez, but Miguez put in the rebound for her fifth goal of the year and a 1-0 Middle Tennessee advantage.

The two squads played a very physical opening 45 minutes, combining for 27 fouls.

Middle Tennessee added another goal in the final minute before the half, as Rodriguez ran down a deflected ball near the endline and blasted it off Gomez and into the goal for a 2-0 Blue Raider lead at the break.

Neither team mustered quality scoring chances in the second half, but continued the physical play, combining for 20 fouls in the final 45 minutes along with the two red cards.

The Golden Panthers aim for their first conference win of 2003 at Western Kentucky on Sunday, October 5, at 2 p.m.