The FIU women's soccer team dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday afternoon in Ft. Myers.
The Eagles scored the game-winning goal in the second minute of overtime as a mixup in the box FGCU attacker Lindsay Haw a wide-open net for the goal.
After defense dominated the first half, FIU got the scoring started in the 52nd minute when Francesca Chong (Miami, Fla.) drove a free kick into the box, and freshman Amy Jackson (Melbourne, Australia) scored on a powerful diving header to the upper corner.
Florida Gulf Coast would then equalize in the 62nd minute on a goal by Caytlan MacKenzie.
The Eagles took the lead seven minutes later when Jessica Zabel scored off a corner kick.
The Golden Panthers would strike back in the 73rd minute when Maria Gualdron (Miami, Fla.) got behind the Eagle defense for a one-on-one opportunity against the keeper. Gualdron was able to best the Eagle goalkeeper for the match-tying goal.
FIU would dominate the rest of the 2nd half but wouldn't be able to take the lead as regulation time expired with the score tied at two.
It wouldn't take long for FGCU to put away the Golden Panthers in OT as Liundsay Haw scored the game-winner in the 2nd minute of overtime
Despite the loss, FIU head coach Thomas Chestnutt was proud of his team's performance. "I was happy with the improvement," said Chestnutt. "We're getting better from game to game and day to day. We're definitely heading in the right direction."
The loss drops the Golden Panthers record to 0-1-1, while the win leaves the Eagles at 2-0-0
For the match, FGCU out-shot FIU 16-10
For FIU, Marina Pappas (Lancaster, Pa.), Amy Jackson and Maria Gualdron were named to the The Embassy Suites Kick-Off Classic All Tournament Team.
Next up for FIU is a home match vs. Binghamton on Thursday, September 13th at 7 p.m.
