MIAMI - Senior forward David Hope (North Tyneside, England) recorded a pair of goals to lead Florida International to a 2-0 shutout over Florida Atlantic in men's soccer action Wednesday evening at University Park. 

The win was the second-straight for FIU (2-2-2), which is now unbeaten in its last four matches.  FAU fell to 2-4-0 on the season. 

The brace for Hope marked the third multi-goal game of his career.  He also had a pair of goals in games against Howard and New Jersey Tech in 2004. 

Hope's first tally came in the 40^th minute when he stayed onside just long enough to be sent through on goal by way of a Richard Martinez (Hialeah, Fla./Barbara Goldman) pass from midfield.  Hope then beat the on-rushing Owl goalkeeper Phillip Lamarre with a shot from just beyond the top of the penalty area for a 1-0 Golden Panther lead. 

He added his second early in the second half thanks to some clever build-up into the attacking third.  Sophomore Bruno Barbosa (Miami, Fla./Doral Academy) got the play started with a pass to junior midfielder Dadi Kristjansson (Akureyi, Iceland) out toward the left wing.  Kristjansson then sent a cross in front of goal that eluded Lamarre and the FAU defense and left Hope with a simple tap in from just in front of goal in the 51^st minute. 

Senior goalkeeper Shawn Crowe (Aurora, Colo.) made a season-high seven saves while recording his second shutout of the year.  He was aided with a solid effort from his defensive backline, including seniors Sheldon Jardine (Diamond Vale, Trinidad) and Chris Handy (Austin, Texas) and juniors Raoul Voss (Mulheim, Germany) and Ainsley Deer (Kingston, Jamaica), all of whom played an important role late in the match in preserving the shutout. 

Lamarre made four saves for the Owls, including a pair from point-blank distance to keep his team within reach. 

Hope had the first of those point-blank chances when he connected on the end of a low Kristjansson cross in the 18^th minute only to see Lamarre make the stop. 

FAU nearly took the lead in the 27^th minute when Franz Chevannes saw his 30-yard effort ricochet back off the crossbar.  Javier Carillo's follow-up shot sailed high. 

Just moments after Hope put FIU in the lead, sophomore Levi Coleman (Broken Arrow, Okla.) latched onto another low cross in front of goal, and yet his shot went over the crossbar in the 41^st minute. 

Coleman was at it again just after the break when he received a cross at the near post with his back to goal and directed a backward header which caromed off the crossbar and was cleared by the Owl defense. 

Down by two, FAU created chances in the second half to try and get back in the match.  Walter Yoder dribbled around defenders and directed a shot toward the left post from the top of the penalty area which forced Crowe to make an outstretched save to turn the ball away for a corner in the 54^th minute.  

Crowe was forced to stop a pair of scoring opportunities in the 72^nd minute.  Borce Ancevski hit a hard line drive shot which the senior goalkeeper could only bat away, and yet he recovered in time to make a point-blank save on Shire Standnes' follow-up shot. 

The Golden Panthers nearly added to their lead on a couple of opportunities late in the match.  Lamarre made his second-point-blank save with Coleman latching onto the end of a Handy cross at the far post in the 82^nd minute.  FIU then had a goal off a Kristjansson header called back as the Icelander was in an offside position in the 84^th minute.

FIU continues its eight-game home stand with a pair of matches this weekend.  The Golden Panthers will take on No. 18 Illinois-Chicago Friday night at 7, followed by Central Connecticut as part of a Sunday doubleheader with the women's soccer team at 2:30 p.m.  The women will play host to Mount Saint Mary's (Md.) at Noon.