MIAMI - A pair of first-half strikes from senior David Hope (North Tyneside, England) and freshman Christian Caporaletti (Miami, Fla./American) were enough to lift Florida International to its first win of the season, 2-1, over Mercer in men's soccer action Sunday afternoon. 

Hope got the scoring started early when he latched on to a through ball from midfield from junior Richard Martinez (Hialeah, Fla./Barbara Goldman), got behind the defense and slotted the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Roberto Cronenbold from just beyond the top of the penalty area.   

Caporaletti notched the game-winner for FIU (1-2-2) in the 29^th minute when Hope's long shot was not easily handled by Cronenbold, and the freshman pounced on the rebound by sliding into the ball past the keeper and into the back of the net. 

The Bears (1-3-1) pulled one goal back in the 67^th minute when Vicente Arze capitalized on a heading miscue by Martinez as the two players battled for the ball inside the box.  Arze took the loose ball, dribbled and then fired the ball low toward far right post and into the net for his fifth goal of the season. 

Cronenbold made a game-high six saves for Mercer while senior Shawn Crowe (Aurora, Colo.) made three saves in the win for the Golden Panthers.  FIU out-shot Mercer 20-12 for the match, although shots were even at nine apiece in the second half.  The Bears owned a slight 6-5 edge in corners. 

Sophomore Levi Coleman (Broken Arrow, Okla.) nearly put FIU up in the fourth minute when he took control of a deflected shot only to see his follow-up cleared off the line by a Mercer defender at the near post. 

Each team had opportunities soon after the break.  Junior Dadi Kristjansson (Akureyi, Iceland) was unmarked at the far post after a cross from the right side of the penalty area, but his 46^th-minute header went wide for FIU.  Two minutes later, Chris Ong'ango saw his effort from the left side of goal to get Mercer on the board sail wide of the far post. 

The Bears challenged Crowe with a pair of shots in the 52^nd minute.  Luis Hernandez got in front of goal and forced Crowe to make a save on a shot from just 10 yards out.  On the ensuing corner kick, Scott Gordon's header from deep at the far post had to be tipped over the bar by Crowe. 

Caporaletti had a few chances to add a third for the Golden Panthers.  A Kyle Emerson (Hawthorne, Calif.) cross from the right side was met with a diving header from Caporaletti that sailed over the bar in the 54^th minute.  Caporaletti then made successful runs through the Bear defense into the box in both the 63^rd and 74^th minutes to no avail.

FIU continues with its third match of an eight-game home stand against Florida Atlantic, Wednesday night a 7 p.m.