MIAMI (Sept. 11, 2021) – The No. 13 ranked FIU men's soccer team is set to play its second home game of the season on Sunday evening, Sept. 12, when the Panthers host UT Rio Grande Valley at FIU Soccer Stadium.
 
Kickoff against the Vaquero's is set for 7 p.m. ET.
 
FOLLOW LIVE
The match will be broadcasted live on CUSA-TV. Live stats can be found here.

MATCH PREVIEW
FIU heads into the match against the Vaqueros with an undefeated 3-0-1 record. The Panthers have been stout defensively to start the year, allowing only one goal through their first four matches. FIU posted clean sheet victories over two previously Top-15 opponents, coming against then-ranked No. 13 UCF (4-0, Aug. 26) and No. 12 VCU (1-0, Sept. 4). FIU's last match resulted in a 1-1 draw against UNF (Sept. 7) in Jacksonville.
 
UTRGV owns a 3-2 record on the season and is currently riding a three-game winning streak. The Vaqueros have defeated Conference USA foes in two of their last three matches, with victories over FAU (3-1) on Sept. 9 and UAB (3-2, OT) back on Sept. 3. The Vaqueros' other win this year came against Elon (2-1) on Sept. 5.
 
This will be the first-ever encounter between FIU and UTRGV in program history.
 
SCOUTING THE VAQUEROS
UTRGV is led offensively by junior forward Reshaun Walkes, who has recorded 14 total points on six goals and two assists this season. Walkes logged a hat trick in the Vaqueros' season-opening loss to Central Arkansas. Between the posts, goalkeeper Trevor Schneider has recorded 15 saves on 64 shots faced, while allowing 10 goals.

FIU BY THE NUMBERS
The Blue & Gold are the highest-ranked program in the state of Florida, and one of five teams from Conference USA to be either ranked or receiving votes in national polls.

FIU has seen a Panther defender score in every game this season. Backliners David Garcia (2), Philip Hildebrandt (1), and Enzo Riley (1) have all logged goals. Garcia leads the Panthers with five points.

Six different Panthers have scored this season in what has been a truly balanced attack, with Rasmus Tobinski, Stephen Afrifa, and Bernardo Dos Santos Monteiro also finding the back of the net.

The Panther center back duo of Garcia and Riley have anchored FIU's defense and lead FIU with 385 minutes-played, along with goalkeeper Grant Makela. Makela has been excellent in front of the net, recording 10 saves on 35 shots faced while allowing only a goal. FIU's lengthy netminder owns a 0.23 goals-against-average and a 0.909 save percentage on the year.

UP NEXT
The Blue & Gold are back in action on Friday, Sept. 17, when they travel to face a Bowling Green squad that is receiving votes in national polls. Kickoff against the Falcons is set for 7 p.m. ET from Cochrane Stadium in Ohio.

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's athletic teams on Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).