MIAMI – The FIU men's soccer team closes out its short two-match homestand, on Oct. 23, with its final non-conference match of the season as USF travels south on Interstate 75. First touch is slated for 7 p.m. Tuesday is also the fourth of four matches, out of five, that the Panthers will play at home.
 
FIU PANTHERS
6-7-0 (5-1 C-USA)
Last Game: Oct. 19 vs. Florida Atlantic, W, 3-2 (2ot)
Next Game: Oct. 28 at Old Dominion, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Kevin Nylen
Career Record: 18-9-4 (Second season)
at FIU: Same
 
USF BULLS
5-6-2 (2-1-2 AAC)
Last Game: Oct. 20 at No. 19 UCF, L, 2-1
Next Game: Oct. 27 at Cincinnati, 7 a.m.
Head Coach: Bob Butehorn
Career Record: 140-107-34 (16th season)
at USF: 11-12-2 (Second season)
 
Click here for FIU-USF match notes
Click here to watch live on CUSA TV
 
QUICK HITS
- Since the Panthers started 0-3 and 1-4 on the year, and being outscored 13-6, they have gone 5-3 with 18 goals scored during their last eight matches.
 
- FIU and USF come into their match all tied in their series, 13-13-2, dating back to the 1974 season ... The Panthers won the meeting last season, 2-1, on Oct. 17 in Tampa, however have dropped four of their last six to the Bulls.
 
- FIU had its 17-match Conference USA regular season unbeaten streak snapped with its 3-0 loss at Charlotte on Oct. 14 ... Prior to their setback, the Panthers' last loss was a 4-1 decision at New Mexico on Sept. 30 2016 ... Coming into its match on Oct. 28 at Old Dominion, FIU has won 18 of its last 19 C-USA tilts, and 19 of its last 21 since the beginning of 2016.
 
- FIU's 3-2 win over No. 4 Kentucky was the Panthers' first over a team ranked in the top five since a 3-1 victory over No. 4 SMU in the Conference USA Tournament semifinals on Nov. 14.
 
- Over the last six matches, FIU has had five players record its 16 goals during the stretch ... Santiago Patino (8g), Andrew Booth (2g), Talla Faye (first career), Owen Green (first career), Joris Ahlinvi (3g), and Matias Barraza, have all found the back of the net ... In comparison, in the first seven matches, only three players - Ahlinvi (3g), Patino (4g) and Nick O'Callaghan, recorded goals.
 
- Santiago Patino is currently tied for first in goals scored (12) and is first in goals-per-game (0.92) ... He is also second in Conference USA in points with 26 (12g, 2a), and points-per-game (2.0) ... Joris Ahlinvi is tied for sixth in goals (6), is sixth in points (15), is sixth in points-per-game (1.15), and fifth in goals-per-game (0.46).
 
- Patino has tallied all 26 of his points (12g, 2a) in eight of his last 11 matches ... He recorded his fourth multi-goal match of 2018 - third in his last six matches - and the 11th of his career, with two scores against FAU Oct. 29.
 
USF PREVIEW
USF comes into its match with FIU with a 5-6-2 record, and a 2-1-2 mark in the American Athletic Conference, following its 2-1 loss at UCF on Oct. 20 ... Alex Zis leads the team in points with 14 (4g, 6a), while Tomasz Skublak is second in points with 12 (6g) but leads the team in goals scored.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
FIU and USF come into their match all tied in their series, 13-13-2, dating back to the 1974 season ... The Panthers won the meeting last season, 2-1, on Oct. 17 in Tampa, however have dropped four of their last six matches to the Bulls ... After trailing in the series, 1-6-1, through the first eight matches from 1974-82, the Panthers hold a 12-7-2 record in their last 21 matches from 1986-2017.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Joris Ahlinvi scored the game winning goal and Santiago Patino chipped in with two goals and an assist as FIU posted a thrilling 3-2 come-from-behind double-overtime win over Florida Atlantic on Oct. 19 ... Patino tied netted goals in the 62' and 84' minute and assisted on Ahlinvi's game-winner in the 101' minute … Patino's two goals marked his fourth multi-goal match of the season and the 11th of his career ... With his assist, his five points is the most for the senior this season and the second most of his career, only behind the six he recorded scoring three goals at Marshall on Oct. 7, 2017 ... As would be expected in any rivalry game things would get a bit physical, tonight's match between FIU and FAU was no different ... The two sides combined for 30 fouls, nine yellow cards and two red cards in the 101 minutes of play ... Despite not holding their first lead until the 101' minute, the Panthers certainly held the upper hand offensively, with a 25-14 shot advantage and an 11-6 edge in shots on goal.
 
PATINO & AHLINVI EARN PRESEASON MAC HERMANN TROPHY AND C-USA HONORS
FIU standouts Santiago Patino and Joris Ahlinvi were named to the Preseason MAC Herman Trophy Watch List along with being named Preseason All-Conference USA ... Patino and Ahlinvi are two of just 32 players nation-wide to be named to the watch list, while FIU is one of just two schools to have multiple players listed (Portland) ... Patino, the reigning C-USA Offensive Player of the Year from 2017, was tabbed as the 2018 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year ... Ahlinvi was named to the Preseason All-C-USA team ... He was also tabbed a First Team All-C-USA selection in 2017.
 
PANTHERS TABBED TO WIN C-USA IN PRESEASON POLL
FIU was voted by the league's head coaches to finish first in this year's preseason coaches' poll ... FIU received four first place votes ... Last season the Panthers were 6-0-2 in Conference USA play and won their first C-USA regular season title.
 
A LOOK AHEAD
Following its match against USF, FIU will travel to Old Dominion to a crucial Conference USA match on Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. ... The Panthers return home on Nov. 2 when it hosts South Carolina for Senior Night, at 7 p.m.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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