MIAMI (Sept. 20, 2021) - The nationally ranked FIU men's soccer team will attempt to remain undefeated at home this Tuesday, Sept. 21, when the Panthers welcome the Jacksonville Dolphins for an in-state matchup at FIU Soccer Stadium.

First kick is set for 5 p.m. ET.
 
The match will be streamed live via CUSA-TV. Live stats can be found here.
 
MATCH PREVIEW
The Panthers owns a 4-1-1 record on the season and are looking to get back in the win column after falling to No. 24 ranked Bowling Green State last Friday on the road. FIU's game against Jacksonville will serve as its final contest before opening Conference USA play this weekend. The Dolphins have dropped their last three consecutive matches and are coming off a 2-0 loss against FGCU in Fort Myers this past Saturday. Jacksonville owns a 1-4 record on the year and have only defeated Wofford (5-1, Aug. 29).

ALL-TIME SERIES
FIU owns a 4-0-2 all-time record and is looking to remain undefeated against the Dolphins. The Panthers had their season opener against Jacksonville canceled this past spring due to complications surrounding the global pandemic. Last time the two programs saw each other was during the 2019 season, with the Panthers and Dolphins playing to a 3-3 draw. The Blue & Gold defeated Jacksonville by a score of 2-0 when the Dolphins last came to Miami on Sept. 22, 2013.

SCOUTING THE DOLPHINS
JU has been led offensively this season by midfielder Reed Davis, who has notched four points on two goals. Davis also leads JU in shot attempts (13) and shots-on-goal. The Dolphins' backline has been anchored by Habib Famuditimi and Nil Ringstrand, who pace the squad with 375 and 370 minutes-played, respectively.

JU has alternated three different keepers between the pipes, with Matt Levy, Jabari Gray, and Luka Rak all logging starts. Levy has started the most games (3) and played the most minutes (225), yet has allowed the most goals (6). Gray got the last start against FGCU and recorded five saves on 20 shots faced while letting in two goals.

FIU BY THE NUMBERS
The Blue & Gold is 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 five of its six games this season. Backliners David Garcia (3), Philip Hildebrandt (1), and Enzo Riley (1) have all logged goals. Garcia leads the Panthers with seven points from the center back position.

Six different Panthers have scored this season in what has been a truly balanced attack, with Bernardo Dos Santos Monteiro (3), Stephen Afrifa (2), and Rasmus Tobinski (1) also finding the back of the net.

The Panther center back duo of Garcia and Riley have anchored FIU's defense and lead the squad with 565 minutes-played, along with goalkeeper Grant Makela. Makela has posted three clean sheets this season while nabbing 15 saves on 59 shots faced. FIU's lengthy netminder owns a 0.8 goals-against-average and a 0.75 save percentage on the year.

UP NEXT
FIU is set to open up C-USA play this weekend, when the Panthers travel to face UAB on Saturday, Sept. 25. Game time against the Blazers is set for 8 p.m. ET.

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