DELAND, Fla. (Aug. 19, 2016) -- FIU women's soccer started 2016 off just like in 2015, with an overtime game, but this time, the Panthers did what they did not do all season long a year ago, end in a tie. The Panthers tied Stetson 1-1 Friday night at the Stetson Athletic Training Center. Both programs start the season 0-0-1.
 
After controlling possession for much of the opening half, the Panthers finally broke through to score near the end of the opening 45 minutes. The first goal of the season came on a nice set piece combination in the 41^st minute. Sophomore Jacky Manteas (Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock, Germany) drilled a free kick from about 35 yards out into the box, where 5-foot-11 freshman Michaela Rouse (Allen, Texas) soared above the gaggle of players to head in the pass far post for the 1-0 advantage. It was Rouse's only shot attempt of the game and the first carrer point for Manteas.

"The team did a great job of moving the ball up into prime shooting position," said Rouse after the game. "The free kick was perfectly executed, placed at the top of the six-yard box and over the defenders, but too far out for the keeper. I found myself unmarked and attacked the ball. Once I had cleared the wall, I knew I had a chance of getting a piece of it. It's an amazing feeling, scoring your first collegiate goal, and I couldn't have done it without her perfectly placed ball."
 
That lead held to the half, where the Panthers held a 5-3 shots margin, 3-1 in shots on goal.
 
FIU retained that lead until a breakaway by Stetson's Sarah Collins led to an equalizing goal in the 59^th minute. She got free after a collision between the keeper and a Panthers defender 17 yards out.
 
The Hatters controlled a good deal of possession later in the contest, finishing with 19 shots to FIU's nine. Both teams took two corner kicks.
 
FIU senior keeper Sophia Trujillo (Miami, Florida / Gulliver Prep) recorded an FIU career-high 10 saves in the contest.
 
FIU travels to Tampa tonight and will prepare for a Sunday 3 p.m. contest at USF. The Bulls are receiving votes in the NSCAA Preseason Poll.
  
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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/.