MIAMI (Sept. 12, 2014) – Redshirt senior Chelsea Leiva's 14^th career game-winning goal in the 70^th minute proved to be the difference maker, as the FIU women's soccer team (4-3-0) bested the Pac-12's Oregon State Beavers, 1-0, on Friday night.

"It feels great to get back-to-back wins at home," Head Coach Thomas Chestnutt said. "The past few years, this has been a very strong team. The girls came out tonight and dictated the tempo and the way the game was played. That's something we've talked about, and they found a way to do it tonight."

With three near misses in the first 70 minutes of play, Leiva finally found the back of the net in the final 20 minutes of action. Junior Madlen Weinhardt's corner kick bent into heavy traffic in front of the goal, where the leaping Leiva was able to push it towards the back of the net. It's the first assist of the season for the Germany native.

FIU controlled the pace of the first half, outshooting the Beavers, 5-2. Leiva nearly put the Panthers ahead seconds after the opening whistle, firing a kick from 35 yards out that the OSU keeper was able to get a diving finger on. An attempt in the final five minutes of the half nearly missed wide. She finished with a team-high seven shots.

With two approaching attackers, freshman goalkeeper Nevena Stojakovic made a goal-saving play, diving towards the top of the box to keep the match scoreless in the 35^th minute. It was just one of two chances the Beavers had in the first half to test the Serbia native.

A strong backline all half in front of Stojakovic, senior Caroline Hernandez made several key tackles for the Panthers in the first half, breaking up potential opportunities nearing FIU's defending third, highlighted by a stop in the 39^th minute.

A foul in the box granted the Panthers a penalty kick opportunity shortly after the second half began. Senior Johanna Volz, who already has a penalty kick goal this season, saw her shot bounce off the post.

The Panthers went on to control the rest of the game offensively, with Leiva capping off the offensive efforts in the 71^st minute. Senior Ashleigh Shim had a good look minutes later in the 74^th minute with a shot that landed in the keeper's hands.

Freshman Courtney Phillips earned her first collegiate start in the effort, while Stojakovic picked up her fourth shutout of the season.

FIU finished the night with a heavy, 13-4, advantage over the Beavers in shots, and an impressive, 6-2 edge, in shots on goal.

The Panthers continue their home stand next Friday, as the squad hosts the Stetson Hatters at 5 p.m. 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. Its colleges and schools offer 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 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 and enrolls nearly 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. More than 140,000 alumni live and work in South Florida. 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/.