Game Details
FIU 2, Marshall 1 (OT)
FIU (1-3, 1-0 C-USA), Marshall (2-2-1, 0-1 C-USA)
Friday, Sept. 7, 2018 | 7 p.m.
Huntington, West Virginia | Hoops Family Field at Veterans Memorial Soccer Stadium
 
The Basics
- The FIU men's soccer team endured a one hour, 27-minute weather and lightning delay prior to the beginning of its match at Marshall, and then had to go into overtime, but the Panthers were able to overcome the adversity to pull out a thrilling 2-1 come-from-behind gut-check win over the Thundering Herd on Friday night at the Hoops Family Field at Veterans Memorial Soccer Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia. Santiago Patino (Orlando, Fla./Freedom) put FIU in his back netting both goals on the night for the Panthers, including the game-winner in the 92' minute. Patino also led all players with eight shots, including four on goal. Friday's match was the Conference USA opener for both teams.
 
- Friday's win for FIU was the seventh-straight victory for the Panthers over Marshall, and improves their record in the all-time series to 10-9. FIU also moves to 13-11-2 all-time in conference openers, and 5-7-2 in Conference USA lid lifters.
 
- Marshall, who was looking to extend its unbeaten streak to three games with Friday night's match, came out of the gate quickly and got on the board after taking advantage of a FIU turnover in the 6' minute. The Thundering Herd's Vinicius Fernandes stole the ball and found himself on a one-on-one breakaway, beating the Panthers' goalkeeper Hugo Fauroux (Cannes, France) for his first score of the season.
 
- Patino tied the match up with his second marker of the season – and his first of the night – on a spectacular goal in the 40' minute. Patino, the Preseason C-USA Offensive Player of the Year and MAC Hermann Trophy candidate, took a pass that was headed high from Andrew Booth (Tamarac, Fla./University) and picked it out of the air with a side-winding right-foot shot that beat Marshall keeper Paulo Pita on the far right side.
 
- The Panthers went into the break leading in shots, 4-3, and shots on goal, 2-1.  
 
- Joris Ahlinvi (Bordeaux, France) had a chance to put the Panthers up just two minutes into the second half with a shot that fired off the cross bar, and then Patino had multiple opportunities in the second stanza, including in the 86' minute that went wide right from eight yards out on an open net, prior to his winner in extra time.
 
- Fauroux recorded one save on the night in 92:23.  
 
- The Panthers and Thundering Herd ended the night with 10 shots apiece, while FIU held a 4-2 shots on goal advantage.
 
Quotable
"It's great to start the conference season with a win on the road. I'm glad that I could contribute with two goals, but it was a great effort from everyone to get the win." – Santiago Patino
 
Stat of the Match
Santiago Patino accounted for eight of FIU's 10 shots on the night, and all four of the Panthers' shots on goal, with two of the offerings on net beating the Thundering Herd's keeper, Paulo Pita.
 
Scoring Summary
MU – Vinicius Fernandes (Unassisted; 5:45)
FIU – Santiago Patino (Andrew Booth; 39:48)
FIU – Santiago Patino (Inigo Sagarduy; 92:23)
 
Up Next
The Panthers return home for the first of two-straight home matches, beginning on Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. when they face UCF at the FIU Soccer Stadium. The Panthers will then close out the short two-match stretch on Friday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. against UAB.

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