MIAMI ? Florida International fell to Western Kentucky, 2-1, in the Sun Belt Conference women's soccer opener for both teams at University Park Friday evening.

The Hilltoppers (5-3-0, 1-0-0 Sun Belt) took the lead in the 14^th minute on a corner kick.  Alicia Dalby sent the corner to the far post which was met by the head of Kristi Cocchiarella and into the back of the net.  The goal was Cocchiarella's fifth of the season.

WKU notched what ended up being the game-winner in the 36^th minute after a scramble in front of the FIU goal mouth.  Venessa Lawson ended up with the ball in front of the wide open left side of the goal and shot the ball into the net from close range for her second tally of the season.

The Golden Panthers (2-5-0, 0-1-0 Sun Belt) came out of the halftime break looking to get back into the match.  They pulled to within one after a free kick from 30 yards out in the 69^th minute. 

Freshman Nanna Rasmussen (Odense, Denmark) drove her free kick effort toward the lower left corner of goal which forced a diving save from Hilltopper goalkeeper Meredith Goodson.  The rebound resulted in another goal mouth scramble in which freshman Michelle Casadevall (Miami, Fla./Felix Varela) kicked the ball toward the open net before it was deflected off the leg of freshman Lonne Godskesen (Odense, Denmark).  It was Godskesen's third goal of the year.

FIU had two more solid chances to level the match.

The first came off another set piece after senior Valerie Patrick (Littleton, Colo.) was fouled 30 yards from goal in the center of the field in the 77^th minute.  Sophomore Francesca Chong (Miami, Fla./Felix Varela) took the ensuing free kick and forced Goodson to tip the ball over the crossbar and out for a corner.

The Golden Panthers threatened again in the 82^nd minute when Goodson was unsuccessful in retrieving a ball that was sent into the penalty area.  Rasmussen was able to gather the loose ball and set up a shot at the empty goal, and yet the Hilltopper defenders recovered in time to force her shot wide.

Junior goalkeeper Madeline Gannon (Ft. Myers, Fla.) made a game-high six saves for FIU, while Goodson made five for Western Kentucky.  Shots were even at 16 apiece, and yet the Hilltoppers held a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks.  There were 46 total fouls in the match (WKU 27 FIU 19), of which 30 game in a physically-played second half.

The Golden Panthers return to action Sunday when they host another Sun Belt foe, Middle Tennessee, at 1 p.m.