MIAMI (Oct. 3, 2019) – The FIU women's soccer team hits the road this weekend for two Conference USA battles, as the Panthers travel west to take on Southern Miss on Friday before heading to Louisiana Tech on Sunday.
The Panthers and Golden Eagles are set to face off at 5 p.m. ET in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Kickoff against the Bulldogs is set for 2 p.m. ET in Ruston, Louisiana.
For the full game notes regarding both matchups, click here.
SOUTHERN MISS PREVIEW
Southern Miss finished last season 13-6-1, earning a 5-1-1 mark at home. The Golden Eagles have posted a 5-5 record thus far, including a 3-0 mark on their home pitch. Southern Miss has dropped both of its C-USA matchups this season, as they were defeated by Western Kentucky (1-0) in a double OT battle on Sept. 21, before losing to North Texas by a score of 1-0 on Sept. 26. The Panthers and Golden Eagles are both looking to gain their first points in the C-USA standings this week.
LOUISIANA TECH PREVIEW
LA Tech finished last season 13-5-3, earning a 9-1 mark at home. The Bulldogs have posted a 9-1-1 record thus far, including a 1-0 mark on their home pitch. LA Tech has earned three points in the C-USA standings this season, holding a 1-1-0 record in conference play. The Bulldogs defeated Old Dominion by a score of 2-1 on Sept. 27, before losing to WKU on Sept. 29 by a score of 2-1 in double OT.
INSIDE THE SERIES
FIU and Southern Miss are tied at 1-1 in the all-time series, with the last matchup resulting in a 3-0 road victory for the Golden Eagles on Sept. 28, 2018. The Panthers' lone victory came on Oct. 9, 2015, when they defeated Southern Miss by a score of 1-0 in Miami. This will be the first-ever meeting for the two squads in Hattiesburg. The series between FIU and LA Tech is neck-and-neck as well, with the programs' sharing a 2-2-1 record in their meetings. The last matchup between the Panthers and Bulldogs resulted in a 2-2 draw on Sept. 30, 2018 in Miami. Last time FIU defeated LA Tech in Ruston was on Oct. 6, 2013, with the Panthers winning the match by a score of 3-2.
LEADING THE PANTHERS
Freshman Ellen Halseth, junior-transfer Yolanda Albalat Collado, and sophomore Rayquel Berry are leading the Panther pack this season with seven points apiece. Halseth and Berry lead the team with three goals scored in 2019, while Halseth ranks first on FIU with 13 shots-on-goal. Albalat Collado has a team-leading three assists on the season, with two goals scored for the Panthers.
NEWCOMERS MAKING IMPACT
Three first-year Panthers are making an impact for FIU this season, as Halseth, Albalat Collado, and junior transfer Laura Chavez are responsible for a sum of 17 points this season. The three newcomers — along with Berry — have been providing a potent punch to the Panther offense thus far.
LIVE STATS
Live stats for this weekend's matchup against Southern Miss can be found here, while stats for the match against LA Tech can be found here.
UP NEXT
After wrapping up two games on the road, the Panthers will return home to face WKU on Sunday, Oct. 13. Kickoff against the Hilltoppers is set for 1 p.m. ET.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIU_WSoccer Instagram and @FIUWSoccer on Facebook and Twitter. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.
