MIAMI - All that FIU needed to push past Denver happened in the first 53 seconds of Friday night's game. Junior forward Thaisa Moreno scored her second goal of the season in the first minute to lift FIU to its second straight shutout of a conference opponent in a 1-0 win.

FIU's defense recorded its fifth shutout of the season and held Denver, who is ranked fourth in the in the NSCAA South Regional rankings, under its 2.18 goals per game average, which places among the top 50 in the country.

"I haven't scored since the first game and Denver is a good team so to score against them - it was a great feeling and I was really happy to help my team," Moreno said.

Prior to Friday's game, the Golden Panthers (4-5-2) had not scored against the Pioneers (7-4-1) in the last three contests. With the win, FIU earned its first victory in the series since Sept. 29, 2000.

"We're finding ways to win and that's taking another step," Coach Thomas Chestnutt said. "Denver played well. They're a quality side and to get a win like that is huge.

In the first minute, April Perry pressured a defender to send the ball back to Denver goalie Maria Khan, who's kick sent the ball to Moreno for a wide open look at the net. 

Moreno nearly scored again with 23 minutes remaining in the first half when Khan came out of the net again, but the ball sailed wide left.

Freshman keeper Kaitlyn Savage did her part to keep the Pioneers out of the goal with four saves. Denver drew a corner kick with roughly 20 minutes remaining in the first half, and as the players clustered in front of the net, Savage wound up on the ground and saved the Pioneers' attempt to tie the score.

"It was kind of a domino effect. Everyone started falling down and taking shots," Savage said. "It was so hectic and in that situation, you just have to make yourself as big as possible and hope for the best."

Denver took four more shots in the second half but couldn't connect and FIU did its best to control the tempo for the remaining of the game. The shutout was the second straight for Savage, who now claims three for the year.

"It's a huge confidence booster going into other games and it just gives us that drive to keep doing well in practice, to keep doing well in games," Savage said. "It's a great feeling."

The Golden Panthers continue their four-game homestand on Sunday at 1 p.m. when they face North Texas.