SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Oct. 24, 2014) – The FIU women's soccer team (8-7-1, 3-3-1) used two second half goals to pick up a critical Conference USA victory on Friday night, as the Panthers defeated the UTSA Roadrunners, 2-1.

Senior Caroline Hernandez found the back of the net for the first time in her career in the 57^th minute, pulling the Panthers back into the match and tying the game at 1-1. Redshirt sophomore Shelby Bowden secured the game-winner in the 86^th minute off a header assisted by junior Madlen Weinhardt's set piece, which found Bowden towards the back post. It's the second time in three games the Ft. Collins, Colo., native has scored the game-winner on a set piece. With the assist, Weinhardt moves into a three-way tie for fourth place in program history with 16 career assists.

The Roadrunners struck first in the 16^th minute off Anissa Munson's third goal of the season. On a ball played into the box that was initially punched out, Munson snuck the ball past freshman goalkeeper Nevena Stojakovic, who finished the night with three saves.

Sophomore Alyssa Robinson came off the bench for the Panthers nearing the 17^th minute and used her speed to get past UTSA's backline for FIU's first look of the night, but her shot fell wide.

Chances were limited in the first half, as it played out to be a defensive effort for both squads. With just seven combined shots in the first 45 minutes, FIU's defense did a solid job tempering an early UTSA lead, limiting its opponent to just three shots following the score. Stojakovic made a late save in the 43^rd minute to keep the deficit at one.

Following the break, FIU's defensive corps of Bowden, Hernandez, redshirt junior Sara Stewart and senior Marie Egan stuck to their line in the opening minutes of the second half, allowing zero shots on goal during four-straight UTSA set pieces.  

The Panthers countered with their best chance of the night in the 53^rd minute. On a corner taken by senior Ashleigh Shim, the forward connected with Stewart's head inside the box, as her shot was blocked by a Roadrunner defender before the keeper could make a save.

With the Panthers' offense heating up around the 55^th minute, the team was able to penetrate the Roadrunners' defense and play balls deep into the Roadrunners' defensive third.
Redshirt senior Chelsea Leiva saw her first chance of the night two minutes after Stewart's chance, just before Hernandez answered with the equalizer from 35 yards out in the 57^th minute. With a strong boot, Hernandez was able to get the goalie to come well off her line for the long-range score.

The match continued to turn in FIU's favor, as both sophomore Ellen Crist and Shim each got shots off before the 70-minute marker, with Shim's shot being saved by Katherine Tesno.
Stojakovic made two big saves in the final 20 minutes of the game and held the game even at 1-1. Leiva just missed high on a header in the 77^th minute. She and junior Madlen Weinhardt both missed wide in a 30 second span nearing the 80^th minute of action, but FIU's offense continued to press towards the net.

FIU worked a corner opportunity in the 85^th minute. With Weinhardt taking the kick, she found Bowden towards the back post for the game-winner.

FIU closes out its Texas road trip on Sunday, when the Panthers will face the league's third place team, UTEP. First kick is set for 2 p.m. ET.

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/.