The FIU women's soccer team opened up Sun Belt Conference play with a 3-2 win over Middle Tennessee on Friday night at the FIU Soccer Complex. Photo by Danny Kambel

Box Score

MIAMI - The FIU women's soccer team opened up Sun Belt Conference play with a 3-2 win over Middle Tennessee on Friday night at the FIU Soccer Complex.

In the win, all three goals were the first goals of their careers for FIU senior Megan Meade, sophomore Valerie Patrick and freshman Whitney Rezendes.

The visiting Blue Raiders took an early 1-0 lead in the second minute of the contest when Danielle LaDuke took it up the left side and fired a lob shot into the right side of the goal for the early lead.

FIU tied up the contest; following a MTSU foul, senior Megan Meade lofted a free kick from near midfield that caught the Blue Raiders' goalkeeper for a surprise as it made its way to the back of the net in the sixth minute.

The Golden Panthers took a 2-1 lead when freshman Whitney Rezendes found herself in the right spot at the right time. She was in front of the goal, following a Janessa Taddei shot that hit the cross bar and landed at her feet. With the one touch, the freshman from Littleton, Colorado found the back of the net. It was only the second game and first start for the rookie, who missed the first seven games due to a collarbone injury.

The Blue Raiders managed to tie it up in the 38th minute. Following a corner kick, MTSU's Kaley Forest recorded a shot to the right side of the box for the game-tying goal.

With the game tied at 2-2 at the halftime break, the two teams engaged in a physical battle for the next 45 minutes. The two teams were whistled for 23 fouls and five yellow cards were distributed.

For the gamewinner, sophomore Valerie Patrick scored on a header, following a free kick by junior Carly Goldich to the upper left corner in the 70th minute. The physical play continued throughout the contest, but it was the Golden Panthers who prevailed with the win.

The win raises the FIU record to 3-6 (1-0 Sun Belt), the Blue Raiders fall to 5-4 (0-1 SBC). Up next for the Golden Panthers is a 1 p.m. tilt against Western Kentucky on Sunday as part of a soccer doubleheader at the FIU Soccer Complex. The men will play South Florida later on Sunday at 7 p.m.