MIAMI (Sept. 21, 2021) - The No. 23 ranked FIU men's soccer team bounced back in a big way on Tuesday afternoon with a dominating 6-0 defeat of Jacksonville at FIU Soccer Stadium.

FIU's record improved to 5-1-1 as the Panthers remained undefeated at home. The Dolphins fell to 1-5 on the season.

The Panthers posted their fourth clean sheet of the year against JU while producing their highest scoring output since defeating FAU (6-1) on Sept. 14, 2019.

The first half saw FIU explode for a barrage of five goals, with five different Panthers getting in on the fun. FIU scored on two corner kicks, a free kick, a penalty kick, and a brace from Talla Faye.

Defender Julian Hodek started out of his normal position and contributed on four scoring plays for FIU, as Head Coach Kyle Russell gave the midfielder a start in the Panther backline. After earning a free kick just outside the 18-yard box in only the second minute, Hodek curled a perfect shot around the JU wall and sank it into the bottom left corner of the goal for FIU's first score.

Hodek left his mark again in the 20th minute, serving up a corner kick into the box for a sequence that ended with a goal by freshman Sander Jonassen Foro. Yushi Nagao got a touch on the service to find Jonassen Foro, who finished the play with a strike past the keeper.

FIU struck again in the 30th minute after another brilliant corner from Hodek, which was tracked down by Stephen Afrifa and finished with a beautiful scoring header. Afrifa created another scoring opportunity less than five minutes later when a Dolphin defender dragged the Panther down inside the box to prevent an FIU chance. Kareem Riley took the penalty kick that was awarded and sank it at the 35 minute-mark.

Talla Faye joined the party at the 38th minute after getting behind the Dolphins' defense and receiving a long pass from Hodek, then scoring on a one-on-one situation with the keeper. Only forty seconds after the intermission, Nagao led a counterattack into the final third and fed a wide -open Faye in the box, who fired a shot that deflected up and over the keeper and found the back of the net.

For the day, the Panthers dominated in shot attempts by a margin of 25-4, and corner kicks 7-2. FIU tallied its most shot-attempts in a game this season, tied with 25 against FGCU earlier this year.

Hodek, Faye, and Jonassen Foro all recorded goals for the first time this season. Afrifa notched his third score of the year, while Riley logged his second.

Hodek added three assists and now leads FIU with four on the year. Nagao was credited with two assists, marking his first points as a Panther.

Tyler Hogan recorded his first start between the pipes as a Panther and notched the clean sheet to go along with two saves.

A Panther defender scored for the sixth time in seven games, as Kareem Riley got on the score sheet.

Nagao, Ito, and Jonassen Foro all got their first starts of the season for FIU. Hodek and Ito played a full 90-minutes in the match.

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