MIAMI (Aug. 24, 2022) - The FIU men's soccer team is set to begin its regular season on Thursday, Aug. 25, when the Panthers host an Akron squad that is receiving votes in national polls.
First kick is set for 7 p.m. ET against the Zips at FIU Soccer Stadium.
The match will be streamed live on FIUsports.com. Live stats can be followed here.
Fresh off winning a Conference USA regular season title, Head Coach Kyle Russell and the Panthers enter the 2022 campaign with ambitions to win three championship trophies. Set to begin their first season as a member of the American Athletic Conference, the Panthers are aiming to win The American's regular season and post-season tournament titles, along with an NCAA championship.
"Our guys are extremely excited," said Coach Russell. "I think the entire university is excited to see us get back on the pitch. We had a lot of success last year and we're hoping to build on that with all the returners we have coming back. We've made the schedule intentionally difficult. The start of everything is day one of preseason. But tomorrow is the exam. We have the opportunity to play against a top program in Akron."
After a preseason in which the Panthers won all three of their exhibition matches by a combined score of 16-2, the first official contest has finally arrived. FIU's first test is against a storied Akron program that has appeared in 18 of the last 21 NCAA Tournaments, with the Zips being ranked as high as No. 10 nationally during the 2021 season.
ABOUT THE ZIPS
Akron posted a 1-0-1 record during preseason play, claiming a victory over Oakland (2-0) and settling for a draw against Dayton (2-2). The Zips are set to return seven starters in 2022, including three 2021 All-MAC performers; forward Ryan Kingsford, midfielder Dyson Clapier, and attacking midfielder Malik Henry. The Zips began the year receiving votes in the College Soccer News Preseason Top-30 national poll
INSIDE THE SERIES
The Blue & Gold are knotted up in the all-time series with the Zips (1-1-1). FIU is set to meet Akron for the fourth time in program history and only the second matchup ever at FIU Soccer Stadium. Last time the two clubs met was back on Oct. 5, 2019, with the Panthers battling the Zips to a 1-1 double-overtime draw on the road in Ohio.
PANTHER PREVIEW
FIU dominated its exhibition slate with wins over Stetson (7-0), Barry University (5-1), and Nova Southeastern (4-2). The Panthers are returning 14 players from last season's roster, including All-Conference Preseason Team honorees Stephen Afrifa, Bernardo Dos Santos Monteiro, and Matteo Gasperoni.
The Panther backline will include centerback David Garcia, who earned All-CUSA Second Team laurels last season. Also returning are senior goalkeeper Tyler Hogan and freshman midfielder Julian Hodek, who were both honored with third team all-league status in 2021.
A variety of new faces such as Lucas Christensen, Simon Afrifa, Andrew Bennett, Paulo Alves, Matt Levy, Julien Gastaldy, Fumiya Shiraishi, and Sander Kohberg are all expected to make an immediate impact this fall.
UP NEXT
FIU is back in action again this Monday, Aug. 29, when the Panthers travel to St. John's. Match time is set for 7 p.m. ET in Queens, New York.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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