Box Score MIAMI (Oct. 30, 2013) – Despite outshooting its opponent, 26-11, the FIU men's soccer team earned a 0-0 draw against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Wednesday night from the FIU Soccer Stadium. With the tie, the Panthers earn a point in the conference standings with two contests remaining in the regular season.

 "I think it's clear that our team is getting better in every area," said Head Coach Ken Arena. "This is a game we may have lost in the beginning of the year, and our whole team believes in what we are doing. We are ready to make a strong push here in the end of the season."

After surrendering two shots to the Gamecocks early in the contest, FIU put together two nice scoring opportunities at the 12-minute mark in the first half.

Junior Quentin Albrecht placed a very difficult shot from near the endline on net, where it went off South Carolina keeper Marco Velez's hands and out of bounds. On the ensuing corner kick, freshman Ismael Longo crossed it in to Albrecht, who made a nice back heel pass to freshman Marvin Hezel. The Germany native headed it just wide of the goal.

The Panthers nearly struck again in the 27th minute, when senior Gonzalo Frechilla settled a ball off his chest that was a clear attempt out of the box. The senior captain ripped it from 20 yards out and nearly found the back of the net, but it was struck inches high. Albrecht came back minutes later with a shot from approximately 20 yards out that nearly scraped the crossbar.

South Carolina's Kurtis Tanner answered on the counter attack off Albrecht's attempt. Tanner took a shot from just beyond the 18, striking the crossbar to keep the game knotted up going into halftime.

FIU continued to provide a strong attack in the second half.

Sophomore Sean McFarlane got a great look on net in the 53rd minute from 15 yards out. The Gamecocks' Velez made a great stop to keep everything in check.

The Panthers' best opportunity came at 73 minutes. A ball was played in the air from FIU's defending third of the field to Albrecht in the attacking third.

Albrecht went up with two defenders, won the ball, settled it and led freshman Josue España with a great pass into the box. España struck a ball on the floor to the far post, where it clinked right off the post to keep things evened up.

In the 84th minute, Hezel had two great opportunities. Freshman Jamar Campion-Hinds threw a ball in and found Hezel's head. The freshman's header was stopped by the keeper, but had a rebound opportunity in front of the net, but it was blocked. The Panthers entered their second overtime contest of the
season.

 FIU had two close opportunities in the first overtime. Frechilla took a free kick in the 96th minute that went on net and was saved. Then with four seconds to go in the first overtime stint, Hezel headed a free kick that went just wide of the goal. The Panthers would continue to keep the ball in their offensive end in the second overtime, when Albrecht gathered a ball in the box and had his shot blocked. The closest opportunity came in the 107th minute, when España's shot was saved, but Hezel collected the rebound in front and knocked it just wide.

FIU next travels to Tulsa on Sunday for a 5 p.m. ET contest.

Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUMensSoccer) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUMensSoccer) for all the latest Men's Soccer news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Google+ (FIU Athletics), (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).

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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including U.S. Century Bank Arena and Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium.

About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. Its colleges and schools offer more than 180 bachelor¹s, master¹s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida¹s anchor institutions, FIU is Worlds Ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded 200,000 degrees and enrolls 50,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.