Senior Janessa Taddei scored the equalizier in the Golden Panthers' 1-1 tie with Arkansas State on Sunday in Jonesboro. photo by Geoff Anderson

Box Score

The FIU women's soccer team settled for a tie, 1-1, in its match on Sunday against Arkansas State in Jonesboro.

The draw matches the FIU school record with four ties, equalizing the mark that was set in 1997 when they posted a 3-11-4 mark. The Golden Panthers are now 3-3-4 (1-0-1, Sun Belt Conference) on the season and for Arkansas State, it is their first tie and they are now 3-8-1 and 0-3-1 in the conference. It is also the second tie in the six-match series history between the two schools.

Arkansas State got on the board in the 10th minute when forward Shawna Sparks scored. The Golden Panthers sought out the equalizer as senior forward Janet Liguori came off the bench to spark an FIU attack. She finished the match with a game-high six shots, including four on goal.

FIU managed to tie the contest in the 78th minute when Janessa Taddei scored her second goal of the 2005 campaign. Taddei jumped on a loose ball at the 18-yard line and fired a shot to far corner past the diving ASU goalkeeper Indians' goalkeeper Brielan Smiechowski. The goal by Taddei moves her into a tie for ninth place all-time in most goals (17) and 10th all-time in most points (37) in school history.

As the final minutes of regulation were ticking away, FIU's Valerie Patrick had a pair of opportunities in the 83rd and 90th minutes that came up short. In the two overtime periods, FIU had chances to pick up the win as they dominated the match offensively, outshooting ASU 8-1. In the 95th minute, Chanelle Crosby and Friday night's hero Maria Gualdron had shots near the ASU goal; however, Smiechowski made two of her match-high nine saves. In the second overtime, FIU continued to challenge Arkansas State as Liguori had a pair of shots, but Smiechowski answered with a crucial save in the 106th minute.

Next, FIU returns home to play host to Denver on Friday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. at University Park. Tickets for all FIU athletic events 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.