Ft. Myers, Fla. - Coming off two-straight wins against Florida teams, the FIU Panthers (4-3) couldn't make it three-in-a-row, ultimately falling to the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (4-2-2) 2-1 Friday evening at the FGCU Soccer Complex in Ft. Myers, Fla.
The Eagles struck first in the 24th minute with a goal by Josey Portillo that ricocheted off the left post into the side of the net for the first score of the game. Eleven minutes later, Christian Raudales scored on a free kick for the Eagles to go up 2-0.
Sophomore Michael Müehseler closed the gap to one score when he scored his third penalty kick goal of the season, his fifth goal of the year, after a yellow card from FGCU midfielder, Jeremy Vollmer in the 42nd minute of the match.
The goal marked the fourth time FIU has scored on a PK, with Diego Tamburus scoring the other.
Despite out-shooting the Eagles 7-1 in the second period, the Panthers couldn't even it up, falling to FGCU, 2-1.
The Panthers will take to the road once again; this time to start conference action, when they face the Marshall Thundering Herd on Saturday, October 2 in Huntington, W.Va. Game time is 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.
-- www.FIUSports.com ---
