Box Score

MIAMI ? Despite a pair of lightning delays, the FIU women's soccer team came away with its second-straight tie on Friday against North Florida in the opening game of the FIU Soccer Invitational.

The Golden Panthers (0-0-2) dominated play on its half of the field for most of the contest, holding a 22-10 advantage in shots. FIU senior Janessa Taddei had a match-high seven shots and senior midfielders Elizabeth Durozel and Janet Liguori each added five and four shots, respectively. All four of the shots by Liguori were on goal and three of them for Durozel. North Florida (1-0-2) got a game-high eight saves from goalkeeper Rachael Howard.

The match got off to a four-minute delay with lightning lingering around University Park. After the early lightning, the two teams looked for openings in defense to score a goal. The two teams went through the opening half with five shots apiece. For the next 45 minutes, the Golden Panthers nearly put one past the Ospreys defense in the 54th and 58th minutes, respectively. Both opportunities came up short as the UNF defense halted the FIU threats.

At the 83:38 mark, the match had its second lightning delay for 35 minutes. After the return to action, three minutes later, the Golden Panthers rattled off a pair of shots against the North Florida defense. Again, the Ospreys defense denied the FIU threats as the two teams headed to overtime.

The Ospreys got off the only two shots in the first extra period; however, FIU goalkeeper Laura Snell came up with a pair of saves to force a second overtime period. In the second overtime, the Golden Panthers nearly got the gamewinner in the 104th minute when Liguori navigated her way through the UNF defense. She found an open Durozel, who fired a shot and Howard while falling down made a diving save. Liguori came up with the rebound and again, Howard made the save to halt the FIU threat.

Next up for the Golden Panthers is the final game of the FIU Soccer Invitational on Sunday at Noon against IPFW.

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