MIAMI (Sept. 20, 2019) – No. 22 FIU men's soccer team plays its second conference match of the 2019 season this weekend, as the Panthers host Old Dominion on Saturday, Sept. 21 at FIU Soccer Stadium for a chance to gain three points in the C-USA standings.
The Panthers and Monarchs are set to face off at 7 p.m. ET.
For the full game notes, click here.
OLD DOMINION PREVIEW
The Monarchs finished last season 11-5-2 overall, earning a 3-4 mark on the road. They advanced to the second round of the C-USA tournament before losing to Charlotte in the semifinal match. ODU has started 1-3-1 thus far in the 2019 campaign, having played all of its matches on their home pitch this season. The Monarchs will attempt to gain their first road win of the season against FIU on Saturday, as well as their first C-USA victory of 2019.
INSIDE THE SERIES
FIU leads the all-time series over ODU 5-3, with the last meeting resulting in a 3-0 victory for the Monarchs on Oct. 28, 2018 in Norfolk, Virginia. The last time the two programs faced each other in Miami was on Oct. 25, 2017, with the Panthers defeating the Monarchs by a score of 3-1 in that matchup. FIU has defeated Old Dominion in five out of the last six matchups dating back to 2015. The Panthers look to solidify their place within the C-USA standings this weekend and add to their conference point total, which currently stands at a mark of three.
AMONG THE BEST
FIU recently earned a No. 22 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches weekly poll, released on September 17. After starting the 2019 campaign undefeated and posting a 4-0-2 start — including a defeat of No. 17 ranked James Madison — the Panthers became one of six C-USA teams to grace the list of the nation's top 25. Charlotte slots in at No. 10, while Kentucky stands one spot above FIU at No. 21.
LEADING THE CONFERENCE
Three and a half weeks into the 2019 season, FIU ranks first in several C-USA offensive categories, including shots (94), points (59), goals (20), goals-per-game (3.33), assists (19), and assists-per-game (3.17). Alessandro Campoy is currently tied for first in C-USA with eight points, while Inigo Sagarduy ranks first in C-USA in assists (3) and assists-per-game (0.5). Campoy also ranks third in C-USA in shots (16) and shots-per-game (2.67).
CAMPOY EARNS WEEKLY HONORS
Campoy earned C-USA Offensive Player of the Week honors for the week ending in Sep. 15, after he helped the Panthers remain undefeated and take down the FAU Owls on Saturday, Sep. 14. It marks the second time in 2019 that FIU has seen a player selected for the award, as Andrew Booth earned the recognition after the season's opening weekend. Campoy was highly impactful against FAU as he was involved in four of the Panthers' scoring plays, contributing three goals and an assist to propel the Panthers past the Owls by a score of 6-1. Campoy's hat trick stands as the first from an FIU men's soccer player since Oct. 7, 2017, when former Panther Santiago Patiño accomplished the feat in a 4-0 victory over Marshall.
TEAM EFFORT
FIU has seen production from a variety of their players to fuel a 4-0-2 start to the 2019 campaign, as 14 different Panthers have logged either a goal or an assist in the season's first three weeks. 12 Panthers have logged a goal thus far in 2019, while a group of 12 different Panthers have contributed an assist. An impressive total of 10 Panthers have logged both a goal and an assist. Those players include returning veterans Campoy, Sagarduy, Booth, Matias Barraza, Owen Green, Xavi Olmos Ferris, and newcomers Stephen Afrifa, Alban Rousselet, David Garcia, and Ronaldo Marshall.
NEWCOMERS MAKING IMPACT
Four first-year Panthers have contributed points for the team in 2019. Freshman Afrifa is second on the team with seven points and is also tied for the team-lead in goals scored (3). Senior transfer Rousselet has four points on the season, while freshmen Garcia and Marshall each have contributed three points for FIU.
LIVE STATS
Live stats for the match versus Old Dominion can be found here.
UP NEXT
FIU finishes off a three-game homestand next week, when they host Stetson on Tuesday, September 24th at FIU Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. For tickets to all FIU home events, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit our ticket home page at FIUSports.com.
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's18 athletic teams on Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUAthletics).
