MIAMI (Oct. 2, 2021) - The FIU men's soccer team secured one of its biggest home wins in program history on Saturday night, as the No. 21 ranked Panthers defeated the formidable Charlotte 49ers in front of a roaring home crowd at FIU Soccer Stadium.
 
"Credit to our guys," said Head Coach Kyle Russell. "We had a plan and they stuck to it for every single minute of the game. They executed it with passion and it was a fantastic result tonight for the boys. They wanted to let everybody know that FIU is the real deal. We knew what we wanted to do and the scoreboard reflected it."
 
With the victory, FIU improved its record to 7-1-1 on the season including an undefeated 2-0 record in Conference USA. The Panthers also remained undefeated at home and now own a perfect 4-0 record in front of the Panther faithful.

Charlotte, a perennially top-ranked program that has been receiving votes in the national polls all season, fell to 6-3 on the season and 1-1 in C-USA play.
 
"This is a new FIU," said Coach Russell. "And we're excited to perform every game as if it's a championship game. I'm very familiar with Charlotte and I don't know if I've ever seen them get beat four to zero."
 
The Blue & Gold handed rival Charlotte its first 4-0 loss since Sept. 5, 2005, against UNC Greensboro. FIU also secured its fifth clean sheet of the 2021 fall season and its second shutout in the last three games.
 
The Panthers saw four different goal scorers on the day in a true team effort, while four different Panthers logged assists.
 
"We have a really special group," said Russell. "Not only do we have dangerous players, but we have high character people as well. It's a special group that really enjoys being with each other. We know how difficult and grueling the college season can be, and we want to make sure come playoff time that they don't want it to end."
 
The Panthers wasted very little time getting on the scoreboard against the 49ers, as Stephen Afrifa continued his breakout season with a score in the 5th minute to give FIU an early lead. Afrifa received a pass from Yushi Nagao near the penalty arc, and despite having four Charlotte defenders surrounding him, the Canadian standout made a nifty move and fired a beautiful low scoring strike to the far post.
 
Afrifa continued to boss the 49ers' defense in the 19th minute, sending an excellent cross into the box for a streaking Bernardo Dos Santos Monteiro, who finished the play for FIU's second goal of the day. Julian Hodek set up the play with a long ball from the behind the halfway line.
 
After the Panthers earned a corner kick in the 40th minute, Kareem Riley scored one of the most dramatic goals FIU has seen in recent memory and sent the home crowd into a frenzy. Riley located a ball that was cleared away from inside the box and one-timed it before the ball hit the ground, sending a high moonshot into the air that landed just behind the outstretched hands of Charlotte's goalkeeper.
 
The Panthers out-shot the 49ers by a tally of 11-1 at the break and took a 3-0 lead into the locker room.
 
FIU's defense remained stout following the intermission and allowed only four shots from the 49ers the rest of the way. The Panthers kept their foot on the gas with another seven shot attempts after the break, and in the 73rd minute, FIU struck gold again when Steven Riad set up Mauro Bravo for the Panthers' fourth goal of the day.
 
The Blue & Gold paced Charlotte in shot attempts by a margin of 18-5, which marked the 49ers' lowest shot tally of the year.
 
With the win, FIU earned its first victory over Charlotte since joining Conference USA.
 
"This is a new FIU team," reiterated Coach Russell. "I'm not here for the past. I'm here for the present and for the future. We're excited for our next match. The next one is against [No. 10 ranked] Kentucky, so we'll go reset tomorrow and then we go hunting for Kentucky."
 
Afrifa and Dos Santos Monteiro each logged their fifth goal of the year and are tied for the team lead in the category, while Afrifa leads FIU with 12 total points. Riley recorded his third score of the season and Bravo logged his first.
 
Hodek notched his team-leading fourth assist, while Nagao collected his third and now ranks second on the squad. Riad appeared in his first home game for FIU after returning from injury and logged his first assist as a Panther. Afrifa recorded his second helper of the year.
 
Tyler Hogan logged his second start between the pipes for FIU and recorded his second shutout in as many games while nabbing two saves.
 
David Garcia and Julian Hodek played a full 90-minutes in the match.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers are set for another epic Conference USA showdown against a ranked opponent, when they travel to face No. 10 Kentucky next Sunday, Oct. 10. Kickoff against the Wildcats is set for 6 p.m. ET from Bell Soccer Complex.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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