MIAMI (Aug. 27, 2015) – The FIU women's soccer team (1-1) returns to the pitch on Friday to host the No. 20 UCF Knights. First touch is set for 7 p.m. from the FIU Soccer Stadium.
 
Game Day Central
Friday, Aug. 28 vs. #20 UCF – 7 pm ET
Venue: FIU Soccer Stadium
Stream: Click here
Livestats: Click here
Twitter: Click here
 
MATCH DAY QUOTES
Head Coach Thomas Chesnutt
"The team is really excited to play. Last time out, we don't think we gave a good account of ourselves, and they're eager to get back out on the field. UCF has been a fantastic team over the years, and we don't expect anything different this year. It'll certainly be a stern test that we'll be ready for. I think our seniors have been very influential on the team, with Marie in the backfield, Nikki, Scarlet and Madlen in the midfield. Scarlet we're expecting to have a breakout game on Friday."
 
Talia McMurtire (Junior, Forward)
"We aren't using the weather as an excuse. We know what we have to do tomorrow night, and we're remaining mentally strong. Of course we know we're going up against a good team in UCF, but we also know we're a good team and we know what we're capable of."
 
A Glimpse at the Knights
After losing three all-conference players of the year due to graduation: Tatiana Coleman (Offensive); Carleigh Williams (Defensive); and Connie Organ (Goalkeeper), UCF has 15 newcomers on its roster this season, including transfers from Mississippi State, Louisville, Miami and Maryland. The Knights fell to No. 8 Florida last Friday before turning around to top Jacksonville, 3-0.
 
Series History
The Panthers and Knights meet for the first time since FIU's magical run in 2011, which qualified the team for its second-ever NCAA tournament berth. FIU fell, 2-0, to UCF in the first round of the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship in Gainesville. Overall, UCF holds a dominant, 27-4-3, lead over FIU in the all-time matchup. Seniors Marie Egan, Scarlet Montoya and Nikki Rios are the only remaining Panthers from the 2011 squad.
 
Chasing a Record
Madlen Weinhardt's 18 career assists sits the Germany native No. 3 all-time in the program history.
 
1. Catherine Liller____ 24
2. Chelsea Leiva_____ 19
3. Michele O'Brien ___ 18
   Madlen Weinhardt  18
 
Freshman Impact
When Taylor Coffee and Lyrik Fryer were written into FIU's starting XI in the team's season-opener on Aug. 21, they became the first freshmen field players to start in the Panthers' season-opener since Marlena Stablein in 2012. Additionally, it's the first time multiple freshman started in the team's season opener since FIU's 2011 class had true freshman Ashleigh Shim and Johanna Volz open the season on the pitch.
 
Coach's Corner
Thomas Chestnutt is in his ninth season with the Panthers and has guided his teams to two regular season and one post season Sun Belt title, in addition to one NCAA berth and four seasons of 10-plus wins.
 
First of an Era
Jacqueline Byers' goal during her collegiate debut versus Dayton marks the first time in seven-plus seasons that a freshman has scored a goal in her collegiate debut.
 
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/.