Junior Janessa Taddei (right) sent FIU into the Sun Belt Championship game with her goal in the final round of the shootout. Photo by Geoff Anderson

MIAMI – The fourth-seeded and host Florida International University women’s soccer team advanced to the final of the 2004 Aeropostale Sun Belt Conference Soccer Championship, 3-2 on penalty kicks, after battling top-seeded Middle Tennessee to a 2-2 tie through two overtime periods Thursday night at University Park.

The Golden Panthers (7-11-1) advance to face the winner of tonight’s second semifinal between second-seeded North Texas and third-seeded Denver. The championship game will be played at University Park Saturday at 1 p.m. With the tie, Middle Tennessee’s record is now 13-4-2.

“This was a really hard-fought match,” said FIU head coach Everton Edwards, whose team is now 7-0 at home this season. “We have a lot of admiration for Middle Tennessee and they played a great game. Neither team deserved to lose this one.”

With the shootout knotted a 2-2, Janessa Taddei stepped up and nailed her spot kick into the upper left corner, over the reach of diving Blue Raider goalkeeper Jenny Manis, to put the Golden Panthers up by a goal. Middle Tennessee’s Claire Ward had a chance to push the shootout into a sixth round but her effort hit the crossbar.

The Golden Panthers forced overtime thanks to a strong run by Whitney Rezendes in the 82nd minute. Valerie Patrick sent a long ball from FIU’s defensive half of the field, which found its way through a group of three Blue Raider defenders and onto the path of Rezendes. The freshman forward then ran into the box and sent a floating shot from an angle eight yards out over Manis to tie the game, 2-2, at the 81:23 mark. The goal was Rezendes’ third of the season.

“That goal really changed the momentum and gave us a lot of energy going into overtime,” said Edwards on Rezendes’ game-tying goal.

The Golden Panthers out-shot the Blue Raiders 20-17 in the match (7-0 in overtime) and committed 27 fouls to MT’s 14. Madeline Gannon made seven saves in goal for FIU while Manis had eight. Corner kicks were even, 5-5.

FIU had a dream start to the match thanks to Janet Ligouri’s third goal of the season just 2:52 in the game. Rebecca Rodriquez equalized for the Blue Raiders following a goalmouth scramble at 57:39.

The Golden Panthers looked to be close to regaining the lead following scoring chances by Ligouri and Chanelle Crosby in the 67th and 70th minutes, respectively, but it was Middle Tennessee who would strike next, against the run of play.

The Blue Raiders threatened on the counter attack but the FIU defense was up to the task. Middle Tennessee quickly won the ball back, however, as Debs Brereton found space 25 yards out and sent the ball into the upper right half of the net past the out-stretched hands of Gannon for a 2-1 Blue Raider lead. The goal was Brereton’s 19th on the year.
FIU created most of the scoring opportunities during the two overtime periods and held a 4-0 shots on goal advantage over MT. Each team had a free kick from just outside the penalty area but were unable to convert.

Crosby and Rezendes converted the first two FIU penalty kicks in the shootout to life the Golden Panthers to a 2-0 advantage. The Blue Raiders came back with goals from Laura Miguez and Rachel Holmes in the third and fourth rounds, respectively, before Taddei sent the Golden Panthers through to the final with her goal in round five.

Tickets for all games are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, the Pharmed Arena Ticket Office, charge by phone via Ticketmaster in Miami-Dade at (305) 358-5885, in Broward at (954) 523-3309, in Palm Beach at (561) 966-3309 or online at ticketmaster.com and FIUsports.com.