MIAMI - After FIU (2-1) and Wisconsin (1-2) swapped early goals in the first period, the Panthers dominated the time of possession in the second half and carried the momentum into overtime when freshman Nicolas Rodriguez-Fraile snuck one past the UW keeper for the winner in double overtime.
"We always tell the guys that we need to play quicker and play it the first time," said head coach Munga Eketebi. "On that goal, it was a quick ball to the flank; a first-time cross and a first-time finish. I always tell the guys one or two touches; there is nothing faster than that."
Senior Diego Tamburus delivered the assist to Rodriguez-Fraile in the 111th minute of the game.
"We got a breakaway and Diego was in the box by himself and he just passed it back and I happened to be at the right spot at the right time and I just put it in," added Rodriguez-Fraile.
FIU struck first in the 14th minute when sophomore Michael Mühseler scored on a penalty kick for his second goal of the season.
The Badgers answered four minutes later when Aaron Nichols took an unassisted shot in the right side of the box past the FIU goalkeeper, Shane Lopez, to knot the score at 1-1.
More than 90 minutes later, Rodriguez-Fraile would be the improbable hero, scoring his first goal in his very first game played at FIU.
"It felt amazing. It was my first goal here at FIU," said Rodriguez-Fraile. "To score that first goal in overtime, it was quite an amazing feeling."
The win was FIU's second of the season, both coming in double overtime.
The Panthers will return to the FIU Soccer Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. to take on the Georgia State Panthers.
For tickets, 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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