The FIU women's soccer team dropped a hard fought match against the University of Miami by the score of 3-1.

After falling behind 2-0 in the first 16 minutes, the Golden Panthers showed great resolve and effort as they gave the Hurricanes a tough challenge, but couldn't overcome the deficit.

UM was led by freshman sensation Brittney Steinbruch, who finished with two goals and an assist.

"They certainly have a very special player," said FIU head coach Thomas Chestnutt about Steinbruch. "We played great football over long periods of time. We made some mistakes, but we kept our heads in a high paced game."

FIU nearly stunned the Hurricanes by taking a very early lead, when in the second minute Maria Gualdron (Miami, Fla.) found herself open in the box and fired a shot that sailed just over the crossbar.

In the 12^th minute Kassandra Sorzano (Miami, Fla.) kept the match scoreless when, from almost inside the goal, she sent away a potential goal from UM's Brittney Macdonald.

However, seconds later UM took a 1-0 lead when freshman Brittney Steinbruch netted her team-leading 14^th goal of the season after she broke away down the left side and let off a crossing shot that got past FIU keeper Madeline Gannon (Ft. Myers, Fla.). Jessica Wyble set up the goal for the Hurricanes.

Steinbruch struck again in the 16^th minute when Sheuneen Ta sent a long through pass that set up Steinbruch's 15^th goal of the season. The goal came in similar fashion as the first one, as Steinbruch once again beat Gannon one-on-one from the left side of the net to bring the score to 2-0.

The Hurricanes nearly made the score 3-0 in the 34^th minute when Brittney Macdonald took a pass off a free kick and headed it dangerously towards the goal, but Gannon was there to turn her away.

The Golden Panthers got one back in the 37^th minute when freshman Claudia Cardenas (Visalia, Calif.) beat the UM keeper from 10 yards away for her fourth score of the season. The goal was set up by Marina Pappas (Lancaster, Pa.) and Kassandra Sorzano.

Coming out of the break, a slip by an FIU defender in the 52^nd minute allowed Steinbrauch to send a pass from the left side of the box to Beverly Goebel, who was open in the penalty area and beat Gannon for a 3-1 UM lead.

In the 68^th minute, Cardenas had a shot at her second goal of the match, but her attempt would sail wide left, keeping the UM lead at two goals.

Madeline Gannon would record five saves in the second half, ending with 10 on the night. However, FIU could not muster anymore offense and the score would remain 3-1 as time expired.

"We played a great team," said Chestnutt. "To go toe to toe with them like we did is a big testament to the hard work we've put in."

The Golden Panthers return to conference play this weekend as they travel to Troy, Ala. to face the Trojans on Friday afternoon. They then go to Mobile where they will take on the Jaguars of South Alabama.

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