MIAMI (Nov. 21, 2021) - After a sensational run in the 2021 campaign that saw some of the most exciting play in program history, the FIU men's soccer team finally saw its season come to an end after the No. 13 seeded Panthers fell by a score of 3-2 to ACC foe Wake Forest in the Second Round of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship.

The result cut short the Blue & Gold's hopes of an NCAA national title in 2021, yet the Panthers continue to hang their heads high after a year in which FIU won the Conference USA regular-season title and knocked off a No. 1 nationally ranked team for the first time in program history.

"Unfortunate not to get the result tonight," said Head Coach Kyle Russell. "Frustrated with the end result, but proud of the boys' work all season long. They made history and broke a lot of records this year. Like I've said all season, this is a young group and we're only losing two starters that exhausted eligibility, so I expect the same and a lot more going into next season."

FIU finished the year with a 12-4-2 overall record, while Wake Forest improved to 13-6-1.

The Blue & Gold played in front of an electric ambiance at FIU Soccer Stadium that included one of the largest crowds the venue has seen in its existence.

"It was an awesome atmosphere and I think this is the start of something special," said Coach Russell. "Any time you lose and the season comes to an abrupt halt, I don't think anybody is ever satisfied and I don't think winners are ever OK with it. We have a group of winners on the field and a staff that is a group of winners, and so we're not OK with it. We're not happy about it. We're not pleased to just be in the NCAA Tournament, so we're disappointed in tonight but also proud of the boys for the season and the volume of work they put in."

FIU out-shot Wake Forest by a margin of 18-6 on the night and maintained possession for much of the way, but the Demon Deacons were able to capitalize on a few chances to propel Wake Forest to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen for a seventh-straight season.

"If we were to do it all over again we'd do the exact same thing," said Russell. "We'd have the same plan coming out. We were able to score two quick goals and were unfortunate not to score more. We want to learn with wins and with losses. Tonight's a learning moment and I want [the team] to never forget this. I want them to understand how close they were to a national championship, and I want them to take this into the spring and in the summer and use that as fuel to motivate them to come back fit and work extremely hard. We just want to make the fans proud. We want to make the university proud. We're going to go to bed tonight frustrated and we're going to wake up in the morning motivated. That's the group of guys that we have in this locker room and the staff members that we have here. We learned a lot of good lessons this season, and we just want to win a national championship." 

After trailing 1-0 in the first half, FIU equalized the score at the 38-minute mark thanks to a fantastic free-kick from Mauro Bravo just outside the 18-yard box that curled around the opposing wall and slammed top-bins for FIU's first goal. Wake Forest was able to answer back quickly however as the Demon Deacons retook the lead with a goal of their own at the 42nd minute.

The Panthers out-shot Wake Forest by a margin of 9-4 in the opening period yet the Demon Deacons took a 2-1 lead into the locker room at the break.

FIU was in control offensively to begin the half, firing four unanswered shot attempts to start the period. In the 63rd minute, the Panthers finally saw their second equalizer of the contest when First Team All-CUSA midfielder Matteo Gasperoni scored after a long throw-in by Julian Hodek in the attacking third.

Wake Forest countered with another goal however less than a minute later as the Panthers fell behind by a goal again in the 64th minute.

FIU saw dangerous chances to score its third equalizing goal in the final minutes with the Panthers knocking on the door as time dwindled, but the Demon Deacons were able to stave off a few last-second chances by the Blue & Gold to seal the victory for Wake Forest.

Bravo scored his fourth goal of the season and led FIU with five shot attempts in the match, including two on-goal. Gasperoni logged his second goal of the 2021 campaign, while Hodek recorded a team-leading eighth assist.

As a team, the Panthers led Wake Forest 3-1 on corner kicks.

Between the posts, goalkeeper Tyler Hogan nabbed three saves.

Center backs David Garcia and Kareem Riley each logged a full 90-minutes in the contest.

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