MIAMI – The FIU men's soccer team closes out its 2018 regular season when it welcomes South Carolina to the FIU Soccer Stadium for Senior Night, on Nov. 2, at the FIU Soccer Stadium. First touch is slated for 7 p.m. Prior to the match the Panthers will honor its three seniors,
Hugo Fauroux,
Simen Olafsen and
Santiago Patino, in short ceremony. FIU will look to gain momentum, against the Gamecocks, as it gears up for the upcoming Conference USA Tournament in Charlotte. Nov. 7-11.
Click here to see complete interview with Head Coach Kevin Nylen previewing Friday's match.
Click here to see an interview with FIU's three seniors.
Click here for FIU-South Carolina match notes
Click here to watch FIU-South Carolina live on CUSA TV
FIU PANTHERS
7-8-0 (5-2 C-USA)
Last Game: Oct. 28 at RV Old Dominion, W, 3-0
Next Game: at C-USA Tournament, TBA
Head Coach: Kevin Nylen
Career Record: 19-10-4 (Second season)
at FIU: Same
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
6-10 (1-6 C-USA)
Last Game: Oct. 30 vs. Marshall, L, 2-1 (2ot)
Next Game: Season Complete
Head Coach: Mark Berson
Career Record: 506-250-73 (42nd season)
at South Carolina: 495-245-73 (41st season)
QUICK HITS
- Since the Panthers started 0-3 and 1-4 on the year, and being outscored 13-6, they have gone 6-4 with 21 goals scored during their last 10 matches.
- FIU comes into its match with South Carolina leading in the all-time series, 1-13-5, dating back to the 1987 season ... The Panthers were winless in the series until 2017 when they defeated the Gamecocks, 5-2 on Oct. 14.
- 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 Nov. 2 against Old Dominion, FIU has won 18 of its last 20 C-USA tilts, and 19 of its last 22 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 eight 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.
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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 12 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.
SOUTH CAROLINA PREVIEW
The Gamecocks come into their match with a 6-10 record overall and a 1-6 mark in Conference USA play, following their 2-1 double-overtime loss to Marshall on Oct. 30 ... Luca Mayer leads South Carolina in scoring with 11 points (4g, 3a) while Justin Sukow and Tucker Monheimer are tied for second on the roster with seven points (3g, 1a) each.
INSIDE THE SERIES
South Carolina has dominated the all-time series with FIU, holding a commanding 13-1-5 lead, dating back to the 1987 season ... The Panthers were winless in the all-time series until 2017 when they defeated the Gamecocks, 5-2, in Columbia, on Oct. 14.
LAST TIME OUT
FIU had an opportunity to secure its second-straight Conference USA regular season title, when it faced Old Dominion on Oct. 28 in Norfolk, however it was the host Monarchs that had the upper hand in a 3-0 win over the Panthers ... The Panthers were outshot 14-8, on the night, while ODU also held a 6-3 edge in shots on goal ...
Joris Ahlinvi led the Panthers with four of the team's eight shots, including two on net ... Old Dominion held
Santiago Patino without a shot in the loss, marking the first time this season, and the first time since Nov. 16, 2017, against Omaha in the NCAA Tournament, that Patino didn't register a shot ... Goalkeeper
Hugo Fauroux finished the match with three saves for FIU ...
Jules Desportes and
Adam Hassan also finished the night with two shots.
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 South Carolina on Nov. 2, FIU will head to the Conference USA Tournament in Charlotte, Nov. 7-11 ... Seedings, times and opponents will be announced following Saturday's matches.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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