DeLand, Fla. - For the second-straight match, freshman Nicolas Rodriguez-Fraile netted the game-winning goal for the Panthers (4-2) in a 1-0 double overtime victory against the Stetson Hatters (2-2-1), Sunday afternoon at the Stetson Soccer Classic in DeLand, Fla.
In the tournament, Rodriguez-Fraile scored the game-winning goals in both the Jacksonville (2-1 win on Friday night) and Stetson games and was rewarded by being named Most Valuable Player. FIU's goalkeeper Shane Lopez (Ontario, Canada), midfielder Diego Tamburus (Campinas, Brazil) and defender Anthony Hobbs (Auckland, New Zealand) were named to the all-tournament team.
After the two squads endured a scoreless defensive battle for the first 108 minutes of the game, Rodriguez-Fraile picked up a through pass from Tamburus and then flipped a shot up and over the Stetson keeper, Andreas Schnable from 25 yards out on the left side in the 109th minute of the match for the game-winner.
The goal was Rodriguez-Fraile's second game-winner of the tournament and third of the season for the freshman out of Miami, Fla. Tamburus notched his second assist in as many games in the overtime victory.
Lopez picked up his fourth win of the season, saving five shots on the afternoon for his second shutout of the season. Hobbs played all 108 minutes of the game and has yet to sit out a minute the entire season.
The Panthers will take to the road once again when they travel to Ft. Myers, Fla., to take on the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles on Friday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.
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.
Stetson Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team
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