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MIAMI (Sept. 6 ,2013) – The FIU women's soccer team (1-3-0) fell to Florida Gulf Coast (3-1-1), 2-1, Friday night in a tightly played match. With the victory, FGCU earned their first road victory of the season.

Redshirt junior Paula Zuluaga started as FIU's goalkeeper for the first-time in her career, stopping six shots in the effort.

“Paula did great,” said Head Coach Thomas Chestnutt. “She did everything we asked her to do.”

The Panthers and Eagles played a close match all night. FGCU scored the first goal of the evening, capitalizing off a Melissa Arnold corner in the 23rd minute. Arnold connected with Paulina Speckmaier for her second goal of the season, to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

Freshman Talia McMurtrie got her first-collegiate goal in the 37th minute, which was assisted by junior Marie Egan (1) and sophomore Morgan Morris (1). The two teams played a tight first half and went into the second half tied at 1-1.

In the 48th minute, FGCU went ahead, courtesy of Tabitha Tindell's second goal of the season, assisted by Shannen Wacker. The goal would eventually be the game-winner.

FIU strung together three shots in a span of two minutes midway through the second half. Freshman Alyssa Robinson had a good look from five yards outside of the box that hit the post.

Sophomore Madlen Weinhardt bent two corners into the box in the 85th minute, resulting in a late-game surge from the Panther offense. Junior Ashleigh Shim kicked it just wide of the net four minutes before time expired in the game.

“We have to come out and win on Sunday against Cleveland State,” said Chestnutt. “We know what need to work on, and we'll come out ready.”

The Panthers return to the pitch this Sunday at 1 p.m. at the FIU Soccer Stadium.

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

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