MIAMI - Florida International picked up its third win in four matches, defeating Central Connecticut, 2-0, in men's soccer action Sunday afternoon at University Park. 

Senior David Hope (North Tyneside, England) got the scoring started in the 19^th minute with his team-leading fourth goal of the season.  Senior defender Chris Handy (Austin, Texas) found space and delivered a low, hard shot to the far left post from 20 yards out.  Blue Devil starting goalkeeper Paul Armstrong could not get a solid handle on the ball, however, and Hope came through and blasted the ball into the back of the net off the rebound from five yards out. 

Freshman defender Sina Ebrahimi (Parkland, Fla.) scored an insurance goal for the Golden Panthers (3-3-2) in the 71^st minute.  After junior Richard Martinez (Hialeah, Fla./Barbara Goldman) saw his shot blocked, Ebrahimi took the rebound and fired the ball off the far right post and in for his first career goal. 

The Blue Devils (4-2-1) attempted to get back into the game when sophomore backup goalkeeper Kyle Thomas (Jensen Beach, Fla.) brought down a player in the penalty area.  Thomas made up for it by not only making the save on Alex Harrson's spot kick in the 81^st minute, but also making the stop on Peter Howe's follow-up from short range. 

Thomas and junior Shawn Crowe (Aurora, Colo.) combined on the shutout for FIU, making four saves and one save, respectively.  Nick Soares came on for an injured Armstrong in the 52^nd minute and made four stops for CCSU, while Armstrong made three saves. 

FIU held a 17-13 advantage in shots for the match, including a 12-6 margin in the second half.   

Freshman Christian Caporaletti (Miami, Fla./American) nearly put the Golden Panthers up in the eighth minute after combining with sophomore Levi Coleman (Broken Arrow, Okla.) and junior Dadi Kristjansson (Akureyi, Iceland).  Caporaletti dribbled into the box and shot a low ball which slipped between the Armstrong's legs, but the Blue Devil keeper recovered before the ball crossed the line. 

Hope then had a chance for a second in the 39^th minute when he took advantage of a defensive miscue by Ben Howe, ran into the box and tried to slip the ball past an onrushing Armstrong who was able to cut down the angle and make the save. 

Just after the break, Kristjansson made a good effort to keep possession in the corner, passed back to junior defender Ainsley Deer (Kingston, Jamaica) whose cross was met by the head of Caporaletti in front of goal but went high. 

Caporaletti had another good opportunity in the 61^st minute when he latched onto a long ball from senior defender Sheldon Jardine (Diamond Vale, Trinidad), dribbled and maneuvered in the penalty area and shot for the upper far right corner but the ball bended wide.   

Three minutes later, he had another header in front of goal, this time off a free kick from 35 yards out on the right side by junior midfielder Edgard Correa (Sao Paolo, Brazil) which forced Soares to tip the ball over the cross bar and out for a corner.

FIU will play its sixth-straight match at home when they host Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Saturday at 7 p.m.