MIAMI – The FIU men's soccer team hits the road for the final time during the regular season, when it travels to Norfolk, Virginia, for a crucial Conference USA match at Old Dominion on Oct. 28. The meeting with the Monarchs will pit two of the three teams that come into the weekend in a three-way tie for first place in the Conference USA standings. In addition to FIU and ODU, Kentucky is also 5-1 in conference play and has 15 points. The Panthers handed the then No. 4 Wildcats their only loss of the season, 3-2 on Oct. 7, so to say that the meeting with the Monarchs is a big one is clearly an understatement. Old Dominion and Kentucky will meet in the regular season finale on Nov. 2 in Lexington.
 
FIU PANTHERS
7-7-0 (5-1 C-USA)
Last Game: Oct. 23 vs. USF, W, 3-2 (2ot)
Next Game: Nov. 2 vs. South Carolina, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Kevin Nylen
Career Record: 19-9-4 (Second season)
at FIU: Same
 
RV OLD DOMINION MONARCHS
9-3-2 (5-1 C-USA)
Last Game: Oct. 21 at UAB, W, 2-0
Next Game: Nov. 2 at Kentucky, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Alan Dawson
Career Record: 371-164-51 (31st season)
at ODU: 242-134-41 (22nd season)
 
Click here for FIU-Old Dominion match notes
Click here to watch FIU-Old Dominion 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 6-3 with 21 goals scored during their last nine matches.
- FIU comes into its match with Old Dominion with a 5-2 series lead dating back to the 2013 season ... Since dropping their first two matches against the Monarchs, the Panthers have won five-straight.
 
- 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 seven matches, FIU has had seven players record its 19 goals during the stretch ... Santiago Patino (8g), Andrew Booth (2g), Talla Faye (first career), Owen Green (first career), Joris Ahlinvi (4g), Matias Barraza, Jacques Bouvery (first career) and Errol Spence (first career), 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 fourth in goals (7), is sixth in points (15), is sixth in points-per-game (1.21) and tied for fourth in goals-per-game (0.50).
 
- 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.
 
ODU PREVIEW
Old Dominion comes into its match with FIU with an impressive 9-3-2 record and a 5-1 mark in Conference USA ... The Monarchs are unbeaten in their last five matches (4-0-1) ... ODU comes into Sunday in a tie with FIU and Kentucky for first place with each boasting 15 points in C-USA play ... Max Wilscherey leads the team in points, with 25, and goals with 10 ... He is also second on the team in assists with five ... Nik Klosterhalfen is second with 19 points (6g, 7a).
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
FIU comes into its match with Old Dominion with a 5-2 series lead dating back to the 2013 season ... Since dropping their first two matches against the Monarchs, the Panthers have won five-straight ... During its current five-match winning streak against Old Dominion, the Panthers have outscored the Monarchs, 15-5, and are averaging 3.0 goals-per-game.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Joris Ahlinvi scored his second double-overtime game-winning goal in as many games, in the 107' minute to propel FIU team to a 3-2 win over the Bulls on Oct. 23 ... Ahlinvi, whose winner was his seventh goal of the season, and his team-leading fourth game-winner, took a short pass from Mohammed Conde just five yards from the goal on the left side of the box and pushed the ball towards the goal on the end line. He took one shot that was blocked but got his rebound and fired it between the keepers' legs ... Ahlinvi also played the hero in the Panthers' last match against Florida Atlantic, on Oct. 19, sending the Owls home with a 3-2 loss following his winner in the 101' minute ... FIU also got first career goals during th match from Jacqeus Bouvery, in the 14' minute, and Errol Spence in the 78' minute ... On the night, the Panthers held a 19-14 shots advantage and a slight 5-4 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 at Old Dominion, the Panthers return home on Nov. 2 when it hosts South Carolina for Senior Night, and to close out the 2018 regular season, at 7 p.m.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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).