MIAMI (Sep. 12, 2021) – The No. 13 ranked FIU men's soccer team remained undefeated and claimed its second home victory of the 2021 fall season on Sunday evening, after defeating UT Rio Grande Valley by a score of 4-2 at FIU Soccer Stadium.

FIU's record improved to 4-0-1 on the season, while UTRGV fell to 3-3.
 
On a night that FIU endured its third lightning delay in the last four games, the Blue & Gold persevered and provided the Panther faithful with a dominate display at FIU Soccer Stadium, as the Panthers led the Vaqueros 23-5 in shot attempts and 9-4 on corner kicks.
 
Bernardo Dos Santos Monteiro was the man of the night for FIU, as the freshman from Portugal notched a brace in the match.
 
The Panthers opened up the scoring with a familiar sequence in the 10th minute, when David Garcia placed a header into the back of the net following a corner kick by Matias Barraza. FIU extended its lead over the Vaqueros to 2-0 in the 25th minute thanks to a brilliant goal from Bernardo Dos Santos Monteiro, who pinged a shot from outside the box that landed just inside the far right post. The Blue & Gold led in the shot-margin by a tally of 11-2 in the opening period and took a two-goal lead into the locker room.
 
After allowing the Vaquero's to score on a counterattack in the 57th minute, the Panthers answered back with a breakaway goal of their own in the 71st minute. Mauro Bravo played the ball forward for the speedy Stephen Afrifa, who blew past the entire Vaquero defense and finished with a scoring strike that extended FIU's lead to 3-1. UTRGV kept things interesting with another counterattack score in the 76th minute, but Dos Santos Monteiro iced the contest in the 85th minute with his second goal of the day after taking advantage of a Vaquero turnover in their defensive third.
 
Garcia and Dos Santos Monteiro each recorded their third goals of the season and are tied for the team lead in the category. Afrifa notched his second score of the year.
 
Barraza logged his team-leading third assist in the contest. Bravo recorded his second assist of the year, while Julian Hodek was credited with his first as a Panther.
 
Local Doral product Andoni Garrogerricaechebarria made his much-anticipated return to the pitch after sustaining an injury back in February. The junior forward played a total of six minutes for FIU in the contest.  

UP NEXT
The Panthers are set for a big road challenge this Friday, Sept. 17, against a Bowling Green squad that is receiving votes in national polls. Kickoff against the Falcons is set for 7 p.m. ET in Bowling Green, Ohio.

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