MIAMI, Fla. – The FIU women's soccer team begins its 2022 campaign on Thursday evening, traveling to face the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns in its season opener in Lafayette, La. at Home Bank Track/Soccer Facility.
 
Thursday, Aug. 18 at Louisiana

• Time / Site: 8 p.m. ET at Home Bank Track/Soccer Facility
• Streaming Video: ESPN+
• Live Stats

 
The 2022 Panthers consists of 27 players, including 13 newcomers made up of 12 freshmen and one transfer. FIU returns nine with five or more starts through the 2021 season.
 
Four Panther goal scorers return in 2022 – sophomore and Conference USA all-freshman honoree Noemi Paquin (5 goals), senior Sydney Amparo (1 goal, 3 assists), sophomore Elli Kainulainen (1g, 1a) and sophomore Nikole Solis (1g). FIU's roster includes two goalkeepers, including senior Ithaisa Vinoly who started the final 12 matches in 2021.
 
LAST TIME:
Thursday's meeting marks the first between the two programs since Oct. 12, 2012, as the Panthers notched a come-from-behind victory over the Ragin' Cajuns in tallying a pair of late goals in the 67^th and 85^th minute to record a 2-1 victory at FIU Soccer Stadium.
 
SCOUTING LOUISIANA:
Louisiana opened preseason play with a 2-2 draw versus McNeese State on Aug. 10 prior to collecting a 5-0 exhibition victory over Southern on Aug. 13.
 
Louisiana was picked to finish sixth in the Sun Belt Conference West Division for the 2022 season. The Ragin' Cajun finished 10^th in the 2021 Sun Belt Conference (3-5-2 SBC) and posted an overall record of 6-10-3. Standouts Karleen Bedre and Ruthny Mathurin were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team, as Bedre led Louisiana in six offensive categories, including points (17), goals scored (6), assists (5) and shots (41), as a second-team all-SBC honoree last season. Mathurin, also a second-team honoree as a defender in 2021, finished among the team leaders in points (8) on four assists and two goals.
 
Series Record: FIU leads 6-4-3
 
UP NEXT:
The Blue & Gold return to Miami this weekend for its home opener, as the Panthers will play host to Mississippi State on Sunday, Aug. 21. First kick is slated for an 11 a.m. start at FIU Soccer Stadium.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIUWSoc), 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.