MIAMI (Oct. 17, 2014) – Limiting Conference USA's third-highest scoring offense to just eight shots all night, the FIU women's soccer team (7-6-1, 2-2-1) handed the third place Rice Owls a 2-1 loss six minutes into overtime on Friday night.

Redshirt sophomore Shelby Bowden netted her first career goal 58 minutes into the match, breaking a then-scoreless game. After a tough Owls' equalizer 43 seconds before the end of regulation, a composed Panthers team controlled the overtime period, highlighted by redshirt senior Chelsea Leiva's 34^th career goal. The score gives the Royal Palm Beach, Fla., native five game-winners this season, which ranks tied for No. 5 in the nation.

With FIU creating the first two scoring opportunities of the night, a through ball from senior Johanna Volz in the 13^th minute connected with Leiva at the top left corner of the Owls' box. Rice goalkeeper Amy Czyz was just able to get a finger on the ball, preventing Leiva's one-touch from going in.

Freshman goalkeeper Nevena Stojakovic came up with a great save on a shot off an Owls' set piece in the 23^rd minute. After the initial shot bent towards the far post, Stojakovic jumped into traffic and came down with the ball, preventing a Rice chance.
With neither team grabbing steady control of the game, the Panthers limited the third-highest scoring and shooting offense in the league to just four shots through 45 minutes, one higher than its own total.

Forty-five seconds into the second half, a pass from redshirt junior Scarlet Montoya to Leiva resulted in a corner. Off the kick by junior Madlen Weinhardt, both Leiva and Montoya had looks that were blocked. Leiva's header rebounded back to Montoya's foot for the Miami native's chance at net.

The Panthers were the obvious aggressor of the second stanza, as a set piece eight minutes later broke a scoreless game. With Bowden standing behind the keeper on another Weinhardt corner, a deflection off Leiva found Bowden for the first goal of the match.

The assists by both Leiva and Weinhardt moved both players further up the program's all-time assists chart. It's Leiva's 18^th career assist, which ties her with Sasja Odenyo for No. 2 all-time, while Weinhardt's 15^th career assist officially moves the Deckenpfronn, Germany native into the No. 5 spot.

FIU continued to control the pace of the game, limiting Rice's opportunities until the 78^th minute. With an Owl approaching, Stojakovic jumped her line, sliding to preserve the shutout. Rice manufactured three-straight corners off the play, but the play of FIU's defense prohibited any shot from happening, a common occurrence throughout the match.

The Panthers didn't let up with testing Czyz, which began with senior Marie Egan getting a shot off in the 64^th minute. Weinhardt's strong boot from outside the 18 was saved by Czyz at the 83^rd minute-mark.

Rice found its equalizer with 43 seconds to play, courtesy of Lauren Hughes sixth goal of the season.

FIU was awarded the first chance of the overtime period in the 91^st minute. Bowden missed her second goal of the night off the set piece with the goalie barely able to make the save. Five minutes later in the 96^th minute, senior Ashleigh Shim brought the ball to the top of the 18, where she found Leiva with one defender on her on the left side. Leiva beat the keeper to the far post.

Besting the Owls, 12-8, in shots, the Panthers held Rice to its lowest amount of shots taken since its first game at Baylor. It's also the first time through six league games the Owls have been held to single digits in the category. Freshman Paula Quintero made her first collegiate start in the effort.

FIU closes out Homecoming Weekend with a 1 p.m start time versus first place North Texas on Sunday from 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).
 
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports, and is a proud member of Conference USA. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and the FIU Football Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offers more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $9.8 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.