MIAMI - The FIU men's soccer team (5-5-0, 0-2-0 CUSA) got back to .500 on the season with a 2-0 victory against the Florida Atlantic Owls (2-6-2) Saturday evening in Boca Raton, Fla.
FIU goalkeeper Shane Lopez earned his third shutout of the season, snapping a three-game losing streak for the Panthers.
"This was a very good win for us after losing three-straight," Head Coach Munga Eketebi said. "The defense played great and will boost our confidence heading back into conference action."
Defense was the name of the game in the first half, as the two teams from South Florida combined for just seven shots in the first stanza. The Panthers came out the aggressors in the second half, putting up the first points of the match in the 66th minute on a header by Jahbari Willis from Nicolas Rodriguez-Fraile off a free kick. The goal was the first of the defenders FIU career.
Rodriguez-Fraile would see his name back in the box score in the 89th minute when he stole the ball from the FAU goalie, James McCormick, and buried it to the far post to give FIU an important insurance goal. The goal was the freshman's four of the season, putting him one behind Michael Muehseler for the team lead.
The Panthers will return home for the first time in six matches and return to Conference USA action as they host the Memphis Tigers on Tuesday, October 12. Game time is 7 p.m. at the FIU Soccer Stadium. FIU will celebrate Greek Night and will also host a youth challenge at half-time.
For tickets to FIU home matches, call 305-FIU-Game or log on to FIUSports.com. FIU students will have the opportunity to earn 50 Panther Points by attending the game and having their ID scanned. Points that student's acquire over the year will accumulate and the students with the most points will be eligible to win great prizes like HDTV's, laptop, iPod's and much more.
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