MIAMI (Sept. 26, 2014) – Redshirt senior Chelsea Leiva earned her second two-goal game in three contests, as the FIU women's soccer team (6-4-0, 1-0-0) opened up Conference USA play with a 2-1 win over the Old Dominion Monarchs on Friday night.

With 32 career goals, Leiva is now five goals shy of tying Sasja Odenyo for fourth all-time in goals (37), while her 81 career points pace her six points off of fourth place, as well.

Leiva netted her first goal in an eight-minute span off a beautiful pass from senior Ashleigh Shim with 20:47 on the clock. With Leiva making a run for net, Shim dished the ball forward, which connected with Leiva's heel. She buried the ball into the left, back corner of the net.

Redshirt junior Scarlet Montoya grabbed her team-leading sixth assist of the season on Leiva's second goal. Montoya looked up and found Leiva alone in the box with Old Dominion's keeper. A soft knock from Leiva bounced its way in, just clearing the post and in.

With Old Dominion able to keep the ball in the Panthers' half of the field for the first 10 minutes of the game, FIU's attacking four began to break-down the Monarchs' back line approaching the 20-minute mark, just before Leiva's first score. On a play started by Leiva, she sent the ball to Shim, who just missed a cross to senior Johanna Volz.

Senior Marie Egan let a shot rip from just inside the 18 in the closing seconds of the half, but the ball sailed high. The Panthers entered halftime with a strong, 8-4 shot advantage. Freshman goalkeeper Nevena Stojakovic had two key saves in the frame, both of which came before the 12^th minute of play.

Old Dominion started the second half much like it started the first, applying offensive pressure, while keeping possession in FIU's end. Following a missed corner 90 seconds into the half, the Monarchs' Melanie Oakes netted her first goal of the season, cutting FIU's lead to 2-1.

Sophomore Alyssa Robinson came off the bench and provided a burst of speed at the midfield position for the Panthers. A near breakaway down the right flank resulted in a strong shot by Robinson from outside the 18 that missed high with 65 minutes expired.

Volz came just shy of netting a goal again in the 79^th minute off a cross on the right line by Leiva. Leiva was involved again in the 81^st minute. Collecting her own rebound twice, she found herself one-on-one with the Monarchs' right back. A side-step got her past her defender, but her shot missed high.

Eleven seconds before the completion of the game, Shim had a quality chance with two defenders in the box. From the right corner, her ball rolled just outside of the near post.

FIU defensive corps of redshirt sophomore Shelby Bowden, redshirt juniors Nikki Rios and Sara Stewart and Egan were solid for the entirety of the second half, countering the continuous pressure applied by the Monarchs. The game ended with FIU holding a 12-9 edge in shots.

Alumnae Weekend closes on Sunday, as the Panthers host preseason favorite Charlotte. First touch is scheduled for 1 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).
 
#####
 
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/.