MIAMI (Sept. 19, 2014) – Under heavy rain which pushed the game back one hour and five minutes, the FIU women's soccer team (5-3-0) picked  up its third-straight victory Friday evening, defeating the Stetson Hatters, 2-0.

Redshirt senior Chelsea Leiva paced the Panthers' offense with her first two-goal performance since Oct. 25, 2012 against rival Florida Atlantic. Her two-goal game is the fifth of her stellar career and brings the Royal Palm Beach, Fla., native into elite company, as she's now one of five players in program history with 30-plus goals.

Freshman Nevena Stojakovic picked up her third-straight shutout and the fifth of the season. It's been 302 minutes since the Serbia native last surrendered a goal. She finished the night with five saves.

On a ball served by redshirt junior Scarlet Montoya in the ninth minute, junior Madlen Weinhardt carried the ball the length of the Stetson's half of the field, crossing it into the box, where Leiva finished with a one-touch. Her second goal of the game came in the 27^th minute, landing high towards the left post, past the leaping Stetson keeper. Senior Ashleigh Shim and Montoya were credited with assists. The assist for Montoya is her team-leading fourth of the season.

Stetson came out aggressive to start the second half, although FIU's defensive corps of redshirt sophomore Shelby Bowden, redshirt juniors Nikki Rios and Sara Stewart and senior Caroline Hernandez surrendered just one shot in the first 15 minutes of the second half. The Panthers' backline was able to counter the Hatters' attack for the remainder of the stanza without allowing a goal, as both teams finished the half with seven shots apiece. Rios cleared a ball airborne in the box with her head in the 71^st minute.

FIU made one final push in the final three minutes when freshman Gabriella Bovo and Montoya both landed shots on target. Sophomore Ellen Crist had a solid game off the bench, providing 49 minutes of work and finishing with a career-high three shots, all of which were on goal.

The Panthers continue Parents' Weekend on Sunday, as the squad hosts the No. 23 Long Beach State 49ers. First kick is slated for 1 p.m.

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/.