MIAMI, Fla. -  The FIU women's soccer team enters its most important weekend of the season, looking to keep its Conference USA tournament hopes alive with a crucial Sunday afternoon matchup in the Queen City against Charlotte at Transamerica Field.
 
Sunday, Oct. 23 at Charlotte (3-9-3, 2-5-1 C-USA)

• Time/Site: 1 p.m. at Transamerica Field
• Streaming Video: ESPN+
• Live Stats

 
A win over the 49ers on Sunday would move FIU to three wins on the season, including its first C-USA victory, while exceeding last season's win total and matching its most since the 2020-21 season.
 
Currently, Charlotte sits in eighth among the league with seven points behind a 2-5-1 mark in C-USA action for seven, while the Panthers trail with three points behind a trio of in-conference draws. Additionally, FIU looks to break a nine-match skid against the 49ers dating back to 2013.
 
Sophomore midfielder Nikole Solis added her team-high sixth goal of the season in continuing to fuel FIU's offensive prowess on the year, as Solis became the first Panther since Alyssa Robinson in 2016 (6 goals) to surpass five goals in a season.
 
The West Boca Raton, Fla., native sits third amongst the league in goals having net just under half of FIU's 13 goals on the season.
 
Classmate Noemi Paquin follows with five points on the year, as Paquin provided the helper on Solis' goal versus North Texas on Oct. 13 to move to a team-high three assists. Paquin has ramped up her offensive efforts in looking to break her scoring drought and support FIU's attack, as she leads the C-USA in shots (2.91/g) while having tallied at least three in each of the Panthers' last three matches holding .562 shot-on-goal percentage.
 
Additionally, freshman midfielder Kim Schneider (2 G) has emerged as a scoring threat for the Panthers, having scored two of FIU's last three goals, while Catherine Rapp (2 G) has also provided solid contributions all season through 12 starts to assist FIU's attack. The Panthers have upped their intensity offensively, having outshot each of its last three opponents.
 
Defensively, the Panthers have made opponents work for their chances, giving up more than one goal just once over the past five matches, though, including a pair of 1-1 draws and one-goal losses.
 
LAST TIME OUT:
The 49ers came away with a 4-1 victory over FIU in Miami on Oct. 1, 2021, while Noemi Paquin scored the lone goal for FIU last season.
 
A win on Sunday would mark its first over the 49ers in program history.
 
SCOUTING CHARLOTTE:
The 49ers are coming off a two-match skid, dropping matchups at UAB (2-0) and versus Rice (1-0) in addition to a 1-1 draw against Middle Tennessee and 2-0 loss to FAU previously.
 
Tash Hudson (5 G, 1 A) and Haley Shand (4 G) pace Charlotte offensively, while freshman midfielder Bailey Manfredi also pitches in with two goals and three assists. Brenna Murray (2-4-1) has taken charge in goal for Charlotte, holding a .719 save percentage with 23 saves.
 
UP NEXT
FIU travels for a midweek matchup at FAU on Wednesday, Oct. 26, in Boca Raton, Fla., followed by its regular season finale at FIU Soccer Stadium versus Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 29.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIUWSoccer), Twitter (@FIUWSoccer), and Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUWSoccer) for all the latest Women's Soccer news.
 
General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.