MIAMI, Fla. – Sophomore Delinda Sehlin notched her first career goal for the Panthers in Sunday's home opener, though, Mississippi State (1-0-1) would use a two-goal advantage in the first frame to pace the Bulldogs to a 3-1 victory at FIU Soccer Stadium.
 
Sehlin, a defender from Sundsvall, Sweden, notched the lone goal for the Panthers on the afternoon for her first points of the season and career, while classmate Farah El Tayar also recorded the lone other shot-on-goal for FIU in the match.
 
Coming off a 26-shot outburst at Miami on Thursday, the Bulldogs carried their relentless attack into Sunday, recording a 14-5 shot advantage, including nine shots-on-goal to FIU's two.
 
Despite the loss, senior goalkeeper Ithaisa Vinoly made several impactful plays in goal for the Blue and Gold, recording six saves throughout the match.
 
Mississippi State was led by Alivia Buxton with two goals, followed by Haley McWhirter with a goal and Maggie Wadsworth with an assist.
 
The Bulldogs would not waste any time opening the scoring in just the sixth minute of action, as MSU would secure a corner opportunity that saw McWhirter bend an exceptional shot from the left corner into the far-right side of the net to tack on an early goal, 1-0. FIU slowly began to find its groove and chemistry shortly after, working its way up the pitch for a pair of corner opportunities in the 14^th and 18^th minute, though, ultimately coming up with blank possessions on both tries.
 
Ithaisa Vinoly managed to corral a pair of solid saves on shots in the 15^th and 20^th minute to keep the deficit in arm's reach, however, Mississippi State would strike again in the 22^nd minute to extend a 2-0 advantage halfway through the first frame. A Panther defender would attempt to clear a ball after a brief skirmish inside the box, though, MSU's Alivia Buxton unfortunately intercepted the ball coming in from the top of the box to rifle a shot past Vinoly for the early brace.
 
From there, Vinoly buckled down for her third save in the 35^th minute, as FIU would remain scoreless after 45 minutes of action. The Panthers lone shot opportunities in the first frame came from a pair of blocked shots by freshmen Chinatsu Kaio and Brealyn Viamille.
 
The Panthers opened the second frame more active, as Farah El Tayar would launch a strike from the close left wing that MSU's goalkeeper Maddy Anderson managed to bat over the goal for a corner opportunity in 52^nd minute. Off the corner, Noemi Paquin corralled possession and squared up for a shot opportunity that would unfortunately sail high.
 
The Bulldogs would find another break in the 60^th minute, as MSU's Wadsworth found separation to clear a ball into the left side of the box from the right wing, seeing Buxton clean up the play with a close-range strike for the 3-0 lead. Despite the deficit, FIU continued to compete in capitalizing a Bulldogs foul in the 84^th minute for the Panthers' lone goal of the day to close the match on a strong note.
 
Paquin sent a free kick from the left side that would be headed directly to Delinda Sehlin for a shot inside the box that beat MSU's Anderson for her first goal of the season and final 3-1 margin by the end of regulation.
 
UP NEXT
FIU will travel to Deland, Fla. to face Sunshine State foe Stetson on Thursday, Aug. 25, for its third-straight season meeting with the Hatters. Kickoff is slated for a 5 p.m. start to be broadcast on YouTube via Hatter Vision.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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