LAFAYETTE, La. - The FIU women's soccer team (9-8-1, 6-4 SBC) fell in a 2-1 loss at Louisiana (9-10-, 4-6 SBC) on Sunday afternoon. With the outcome, FIU currently ranks fourth in the conference and can not finish any higher in the standings for the Sun Belt Tournament.

In the first five minutes of the match, junior transfer Kelly Ann Hutchinson scored her first goal as a Panther off a corner by junior captain April Perry.

Less than two minutes later, the Rajin' Cajuns responded when Shelby Isley crossed a ball to Chelsea Balestra, whose header found the back of the net to knot the score at 1.

In the final 6:20 of the first half, FIU attempted four shots but couldn't capitalize. Freshman forward Chelsea Leiva's shot was saved, senior forward Kassandra Sorzano had two shots blocked and junior forward Deana Rossi's shot was also saved.

After halftime, the squads battled through 40 minutes of scoreless play before Louisiana drew a free kick, and Melissa Minton and Courtney Hofland combined for an assist to Cayla  Chatman for the game-winner.

FIU took two more stabs at the net in an effort to tie up the game, but Perry's shot at 87:26 was blocked and Katrina Rose's attempt 49 seconds later sailed high.

"Like I told the team, we have to be focused the whole game and we let Louisiana back in it," Head Coach Thomas Chestnutt said. "They had their backs against the wall because it was a must-win situation to get into the tournament. When your team is backed into a corner and they have a lot of fight and will, it's tough and it's never easy. So congratulations to Louisiana. Now, we have to look at our final game at FAU next week and get ourselves ready."

FIU finishes the regular season on Friday at rival Florida Atlantic at 7 p.m.