MURFEESBORO, Tennessee (October 2, 2016) -- Freshman Isabella de Almagro (Pembroke Pines, Florida / American Heritage HS) picked an opportune time to score her first career goal, as it was a double-overtime game winner in FIU's 3-2 women's soccer win at Middle Tennessee Sunday afternoon at Dean Hayes Stadium in Conference USA action. The win set a season-high for goals in a game and is the first for FIU in C-USA action this season.

The last time the team scored three goals was September 27, 2015, in a road win at UTEP. The win also snapped an eight-match losing streak for the Panthers in Murfreesboro, dating back to 2003.

FIU is now 2-7-2 overall, 1-2-1 in C-USA. The Panthers have moved into a tie for eighth in the league standings after their four-point weekend - one for tying Friday and three for winning Sunday.

de Almagro took the only shot of the second overtime period, nailing home the goal at the 102:18 mark. It came after an Alyssa Robinson (Pembroke Pines, Florida / American Heritage HS)  throw in, which bounced high towards goal and a Blue Raider header clearance attempt came right to Emily Baragar (Virginia Beach, Virginia / Princess Anne HS), who fed de Almagro, who was calling for the ball as she made a run up the left side of the box, crossing her shot past the keeper to end the contest.

"I saw the play developing and I was focused to get myself in the right position for a ball played back," de Almagro said. "Once Emily got it, I called for it and hit it to the far post. We battled hard all game and deserved that win. Finishing off the game was very relieving after we led early before overtime."

FIU got off to a quick lead when Jacky Manteas (Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock, Germany) launched a free kick from 22 yards out off the crossbar and to a streaking Bria Williams (Lewisville, Texas) for her first career goal an the early lead at the start of the 11th minute.

Both teams had five shots and two saves in a first half filled with nice passing and a possession-controlled pace.

The team's goal-scoring leader, Robinson received a beautifully-lofted cross from junior Paula Quintero (Doral, Florida / Ronald Reagan HS) over a crowded defensive box and pinged in a goal off the near post to start the second half in the 49th minute to put the Panthers up 2-0 for their first two-goal lead of the season.

"I thought we set the tone in the first half, with the early goal," said Robinson after the game. "Then we got a second goal. Unfortunately, we let them back in, but this team fights. We knew we had worked too hard not to come out with this win. Everyone is excited and ready to build off of it."

Middle (3-7-1, 1-3 C-USA) stormed back to tie the game after a pair of goals from Haley Nishimoto, the last coming with with just over six minutes remaining in regulation, forcing the extra periods.

Middle outshot the Panthers 11-2 in the second half, putting pressure on the FIU defense.

That pressure continued in the first overtime, with the Blue Raiders getting off three shots to FIU's lone attempt.

Following her shutout of UAB Friday, senior keeper Sophia Trujillo (Miami, Florida / Gulliver Prep) earned her second win of the year. She finished the game with four saves.

The Panthers' three-game road trip concludes Wednesday night at Louisiana Tech, in an 8 p.m. contest from Ruston.
 
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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/.