COLUMBIA, South Carolina (Oct. 16, 2021) - The No. 14 ranked FIU men's soccer team secured a huge Conference USA road win on Saturday morning, as the Panthers routed the South Carolina Gamecocks by a score of 4-1 in Columbia.

FIU improved to 8-1-2 on the season and an undefeated 3-0-1 in C-USA play.

The Panthers secured their fifth win by at least two goals in the 2021 campaign, as FIU leads the league in scoring.

"Very proud of the way our boys responded today after going down a goal early," said Head Coach Kyle Russell. "They stuck to the plan and worked extremely hard. We were able to insert and look at a lot of our guys today again and it was a total team effort."

After a penalty kick goal by the Gamecocks, the Panthers shutout USC and answered with a barrage of scoring that including two goals within less than a minute. Top-100 Freshman list honoree Bernardo Dos Santos got FIU on the board first in the 34th minute, before Talla Faye tacked on the game-winning score immediately after to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead.

Following the break, the Panthers took total control and dominated the shot margin by a tally of 12-3, while leading the Gamecocks 4-0 in corner kicks.

Forward Rasmus Tobinski came off the bench and quickly joined the party with a score of his own in the 48th minute, as Dos Santos Monteiro set up the play. C-USA points leader Stephen Afrifa continued his breakout season later in the 65th minute, when the Canadian standout found the back of the net to extend FIU's lead to three goals.

"Although the score may not reflect it, there are no easy games in C-USA," said Russell. "Now we turn our attention to prepare for our next home game against Coastal Carolina this Tuesday."

Dos Santos Monteiro and Faye led the contest with three points apiece, including a goal and an assist each. Afrifa and Dos Santos Monteiro each notched their sixth goal of the season, as the two Panthers lead FIU in the category.

Faye logged his third goal of the year, while Tobinski recorded his second. Former National Team of the Week defender Hildebrandt recorded an assist in his first game back in the Panther starting lineup.

UP NEXT
FIU will be back in front of the Panther faithful this Tuesday, Oct. 19, for an exciting clash against first-year C-USA member Coastal Carolina. First kick against the Chanticleers is slated for 7 p.m. ET at FIU Soccer Stadium.

For more information on tickets, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit here.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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