MIAMI (October 4, 2016) – The FIU men's soccer team finally returned to the friendly confines of the FIU Soccer Stadium, for the first time since Sept. 17, to face No. 12 Florida Gulf Coast University, following three-straight matches on the road. The meeting with the Eagles marked the fifth-consecutive match that FIU took the pitch against a team either ranked or receiving votes in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Top 25. And tonight's meeting had an added twist for FIU; the foe also happens to be the nation's top scoring offense coming in.

The change of scenery didn't seem to help the Panthers as FGCU handed FIU a 4-1 loss, extending its losing streak to four matches. It was also FIU's first loss at home this season.

The Panthers drop to 3-6-1 on the year while the Eagles improve to 8-2-1.

It didn't take long for FGCU to try to get in the scoreboard as it had a good opportunity that tested FIU goalkeeper Arthur Clapot in the third minute of play when the Eagles' Miguel Jaime sent a solid bender towards the top left corner of the goal, only to have Clapot make a spectacular diving punch save to his right.

But it was FIU that struck first when Paul Marie got the Panthers on the board just five minutes later off a set piece, sending his shot to the low right post and into the back of the net beating FGCU keeper Sawyer Jackman and giving FIU a 1-0 lead.

Marie made a bid for his second goal of the match in the 28^th minute with a laser shot from the point that nearly beat Jackman. Jackman, like his FIU counterpart Clapot earlier in the match, made an acrobatic diving save, keeping the contest at 1-0.

Neither side posed much of a threat the remainder of the half as the Panthers took the lead into the locker room at the break while also holding a 6-4 shots advantage and a 4-1 edge in shots on goal. Marie was the aggressor offensively in the first 45 minutes with four shots, three coming on goal.

FIU came out firing in the second half with Nicholas Midttun looking to give the Panthers a two-goal advantage, however his laser shot went just over the crossbar in the 48^th minute.

Just eight minutes later, FGCU's Arion Sobers-Assue looked to put the equalizer in the back of the net only to have his offering go just over the crossbar out of reach of a leaping Clapot.

The Eagles' Robert Ferrer then had a point blank shot from five yards out that he attempted to put in the low left corner of the goal, however went just wide left in the 59^th minute.

Jaime finally got the Eagles on the board in the 63^rd minute beating, Clapot to even the match at 1-1. His goal started a 16-minute stretch in which FGCU broke the game wide open.

Just six minutes later, in the 69^th minute, Shak Adams took a pass from Justin Gavin – off a loose ball that pin-balled off several players – and found the back of the net for the go-ahead goal from eight yards out. Adams struck again in the 76^th minute going from left to right then firing a shot from 20 yards that found its way into the low left corner of the goal making the score 3-1.

Reilee Mohsin capped off the scoring barrage in the 79^th minute for the final goal of the night for the Eagles off an assist from Miguel Perez.

FGCU finished the match with a 12-11 advantage in shots, despite the shots on goal being all even at five apiece.

The Panthers will return home on Oct. 8 when they face South Carolina in a key Conference USA tilt and closing out their short two-match home stretch. First touch is slated for 7 p.m.

Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUMensSoccer) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUMensSoccer) for all the latest Men's Soccer news.

Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on 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. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.

About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that 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 contributes $8.9 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/.