September 16, 2004

The Golden Panthers raise their record to 2-4 with the win; meanwhile, South Florida falls to 1-2-1 with the loss. The contest was a make up of the originally scheduled contest from Sunday, Sept. 12.

The one-goal margin was the tale of the 2003 season when the Golden Panthers dropped seven decisions by a single tally. The determined Golden Panthers relied on a stingy offensive and defensive attack en route to the win. FIU jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the opening half against USF.

FIU freshman Kristin Hurst scored her first collegiate goal in the sixth minute for the early 1-0 lead. The Golden Panthers capitalized on sloppy defensive play by USF for its second goal when Janessa Taddei added her team-leading fifth goal in the 11th minute.

FIU held the ball in its offensive half of the field, but USF challenged the Golden Panthers’ defense in the second half. The visiting Bulls came back in the second half to outshoot FIU, 8-2 but Golden Panthers’ goalie Madeline Gannon answered the challenge. Despite a header goal by USF’s Christine Koester in the 54th minute, Gannon and the Golden Panther defense answered. Gannon, the rookie from Fort Myers, made five saves in the contest, including three in the second half.

The rigorous schedule continues for the Golden Panthers, who next travel to Tallahassee to take on Florida State. The host Seminoles are ranked as high as No. 5 in the nation with a 4-1 record, heading into Sunday’s 1 p.m. tilt.