MIAMI (July 29, 2021) - The FIU men's soccer team announced the release of its Fall 2021 schedule on Thursday, as Head Coach Kyle Russell and the Panthers get ready for a full slate of games after a 2020 season that was shortened by the pandemic.

For the complete Fall 2021 schedule, click here.

"We are very excited for our upcoming fall schedule," said Coach Russell. "FIU plays in one of the best collegiate soccer conferences in the country, and we have intentionally created a very strong non-conference schedule to compliment our Conference USA portion".

The Panthers will play a challenging lineup of 16 games this fall, with nine of those matchups against teams that appeared in last season's NCAA Tournament. FIU is set to take on a total of six Top-25 opponents and an additional squad (BGSU) that received votes in the most recent United Soccer Coaches' poll. Additionally, FIU will face the No. 1 ranked team in the nation in Conference USA rival Marshall, after the Thundering Herd were crowned NCAA National Champions last season.

"We want to be the best in the country," said Russell,  "And in order to do that, you have to be in the NCAA tournament at the end of the season. This schedule is exactly what our players came to FIU for and we can't wait to get started."

FIU will play a total of seven games on its home pitch and nine on the road during the upcoming campaign, with the first seven matchups played against non-conference opponents, and eight of the last nine games against C-USA foes. 

The Panthers are scheduled to kick things off on the road for their first two matches, as the Blue & Gold travels to face No. 13 UCF on Thursday, Aug. 26, before heading south to battle FGCU in Fort Myers on Sunday, Aug. 29.

FIU will host its first home game of the season against VCU on Saturday, Sept. 4, with first kick set for 7 p.m. ET at FIU Soccer stadium. The Panthers hit the road again to face UNF on Wednesday, Sept. 8, before returning home to face UT Rio Grande Valley on Sunday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. The Blue & Gold then travels to Ohio the following weekend for a showdown against the Bowling Green State Falcons (Sept. 17), before landing back in the 305 to host Jacksonville (Sept. 21).

The Panthers crack open the C-USA slate on Saturday, Sept. 25, when they hit the road to face UAB in Birmingham, Alabama. FIU then hosts its first C-USA contest in Miami on Saturday, Oct. 2, against No. 20 Charlotte, before traveling to battle No. 16 Kentucky (Oct. 10) and South Carolina (Oct. 16) .

The Blue & Gold sees its only back-to-back home games of the season when they welcome No. 24 Coastal Carolina (Oct. 19) and ODU (Oct. 22) the following week. CCU will be a familiar opponent for Coach Russell, who played collegiately and coached for a total of 15 seasons with the Chanticleers prior to coming to FIU. The Chanticleers will be playing in their inaugural season as a C-USA affiliate member.

FIU will take a break from C-USA play on Tuesday, Oct. 26, to face a collegiate soccer powerhouse in No. 7 ranked Clemson. The Panthers then wrap up their 2021 road slate with a contest against FAU (Oct. 30) in Boca Raton, before welcome the defending champion Marshall Thundering Herd to close out the regular season on Friday, Nov. 5. Kickoff against the Herd is set for 7 p.m. ET under the lights at FIU Soccer Stadium. 

The 2021 C-USA Tournament is set to begin on Wednesday, Nov. 10, in Charlotte, North Carolina, and will run until Sunday, Nov. 14. The winner of the tournament will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

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

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