MIAMI - Derek Rios scored the game-winner in the 87^th minute to lift UAB past Florida International, 2-1, in Conference USA men's soccer action Saturday night at University Park. 

The loss drops the Golden Panthers to 6-9-2 on the year and 2-6-0 in C-USA play.  Five of the Golden Panthers' six conference losses have been decided by just the odd goal.  The Blazers improved to 9-6-2 with the win and 4-3-1 in conference.  They will be the No. 5 seed in next week's C-USA Tournament in Tulsa, Okla. 

FIU will have to await the result of the match between Marshall and UCF, which will be played Monday afternoon in Tulsa, Okla., to find out whether or not they will be the eighth and final team to make it to the conference tournament, which starts Wednesday. 

Rios was in an opportunistic position in front of goal as the ball came through a crowd of traffic at the right post after Dejan Jakovic and Jerson Monteiro, who were credited with the assists, linked up on the cross from the right side of the penalty area.  It was Rios' second goal of the season. 

The Golden Panthers were playing a man down for much of the second half after sophomore Phill Fisher (Swindon, England) was sent off following a dangerous collision in the 56^th minute. 

UAB had opened the scoring in the 22^nd minute with an own goal when Lukasz Kwapisz' cross from the right side of the penalty area was inadvertently knocked in by FIU defender Raoul Voss (Mülheim, Germany). 

The Golden Panthers capitalized on a defensive miscue at the other end to grab an equalizer just before the break.  Freshman Christian Caporaletti (Miami, Fla./American) intercepted a backpass to the Blazer goalkeeper and shot from four yards out into the open net in the 41^st minute for his fourth goal of the season. 

FIU nearly took the lead just prior to the red card in the 56^th minute.  Sophomore Dadi Krisjansson (Akureyri, Iceland) sent a free kick deep to the far post where Voss headed back across the goal mouth to sophomore Levi Coleman (Broken Arrow, Okla.), whose low volley was saved at the right post. 

Jakovic had a pair of close calls for UAB moments before assisting on the game-winner.  After a Blazer build-up around the penalty area, Jakovic found space 12 yards from goal in the 83^rd minute, only to have his effort saved and turned away for a corner by an outstretched Kyle Thomas (Jensen Beach, Fla.).  Three minutes later, his free kick was fired inches wide of the left post from 20 yards out. 

Statistics for the match were fairly even as each team had 12 shots apiece.  The Golden Panthers held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks and had 17 fouls to UAB's 15. 

Goalkeepers Thomas and Jeremy Drake made five saves each.