Defensive and goalkeeping mistakes led to three Mean Green goals, as FIU's bid at a Sun Belt Conference upset fell short. The Golden Panthers (2-5-1; 0-3-0) struck first, but couldn't hang on as North Texas(9-2-0; 3-0-0) beat FIU 4-2, Friday night at University Park.

The Golden Panthers took an early lead when in the 11^th minute, Kassandra Sorzano (Miami, Fla.) sent a through pass to Claudia Cardenas (Visalia, Calif.) who broke away behind the Mean Green defense and fired a long, bending shot that got past the North Texas keeper for Cardenas' third goal of the season and a 1-0 FIU lead.

The lead would not last long as North Texas equalized in the 19^th minute on a putback goal by Janaye Woods.

FIU nearly re-took the lead in the 29^th minute when a beautiful move by Maria Gualdron (Miami, Fla.) that left the North Texas defender in the dust allowed her to send a pass to Marina Pappas (Lancaster, Pa.). Pappas then let off a beautiful shot that bounced off the crossbar.

North Texas took a 2-1 lead in the 39^th minute when the ball trickled away from Jessica Vaccaro's (Miami, Fla.) grasp after a save, and Lauren Weller tapped it in for her first goal of the season.

The mean green would make the score 3-1 in the 66^th minute when Brittany Cleveland took advantage of a defensive mishap by FIU for her 9^th goal of the season

Veronica Ayala would make the score 4-1 in the 72^nd minute when she fired from long distance and managed to get the ball past Vaccaro.

FIU would cut into the lead a minute later when a North Texas foul set up a free kick for Pappas. The sophomore would fire on the net and find the back of the net for her third goal of the year.

North Texas would threaten again, but Madeline Gannon (Ft. Myers, Fla.), who came in for Vaccaro, was there to turn them away.

The score remained the same as time expired, giving North Texas their third SBC victory, and dropping the Golden Panthers to 0-3-0 in conference play.

FIU returns to action on Sunday at 11 a.m. as they host the University of Denver.

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