MIAMI, Fla. -  The FIU women's soccer team welcomes UAB and UTSA this week in Miami, as the Panthers prepare to host the Blazers on Thursday, Sept. 21, for their Conference USA home opener, followed by a Sunday morning matchup with the Roadrunners at FIU Soccer Stadium.
 
Thursday, Sept. 22 vs. UAB (4-2-2, 1-0 C-USA)

• Time/Site: 7 p.m. at FIU Soccer Stadium
• Streaming Video: CUSA.tv
• Live Stats
• Promotion: First 75 students receive $10 on-campus dining meal vouchers

 
Sunday, Sept. 25 vs. UTSA (5-4-1, 1-1 C-USA)

• Time/Site: 11 a.m. at FIU Soccer Stadium
• Live Stats

 
The Panthers (2-4-1, 0-1-1 C-USA) enter Thursday looking to nab their first league win and second home win of the season after their previous home match versus Alabama A&M was suspended due to lightning on Sept. 7.
 
FIU drew at UTEP last Thursday (Sept. 11), 0-0, despite hanging a significant 16-4 shot advantage over the Miners, though, Ithaisa Vinoly tallied her first clean sheet of the year with three saves. The Panthers then fell 3-0 at preseason league favorite Rice on Sunday (Sept. 18), though, battling closely throughout the match with an 11-10 shot discrepancy despite the final margin.
 
Nikole Solis continues to pace the Panthers in scoring (5 goals) and will certainly look to end her two-match drought tomorrow after tallying three of the past four FIU goals – not including her two scored during the 3-0 no contest versus AAMU. The sophomore always poses a threat on the pitch with a .688 shot-on-goal percentage – which leads the C-USA and is good for 12^th best amongst the NCAA.
 
Among the team's point leaders, Dominique Marcelli follows with four points (1 goal, 2 assists), while Catherine Rapp (2G), Noemi Paquin (1G, 1A) and Delinda Sehlin (1G) follow. Farah El Tayar, Reagan Bridges, Chinatsu Kaio and Idelys Vazquez have also recorded assists on the season.
 
A pair of wins this weekend poses a crucial chance to vault up the Conference USA standings through the second weekend of league action, as UAB and UTSA each hold just one league win apiece. The Panthers fell to UAB last in 2017, 5-1, and dropped their last matchup against UTSA, 4-2, last season, though, having won three of the last four matchups with the Roadrunners.
 
SCOUTING THE BLAZERS:
The Blazers hold a 4-2-2 overall record on the season and most recently picked up a league-opening victory at Middle Tennessee on Sunday, 2-1. UAB also holds wins over Chattanooga, Kennesaw State and Samford.
 
The Blazers enter Thursday ranked third in the league in points/g (6.00) and goals/g (2.33), having tallied 17 on the year – which also ranks third overall in the C-USA. Freshman forward Stella Lacey paces UAB with a team-high six goals, followed by Carlyn Presley (4G, 1A) and Jessica Wheeler (2G, 3A) to pioneer the Blazers' attack. Additionally nine other Blazers have recorded points on the season, as the UAB offensive prowess can be felt across the board. Senior goalkeeper Eve Beyer recently started in goal for UAB, holding an undefeated 3-0-2 record with 20 saves while leading the conference with an .800 save percentage.
 
Series History: Tied at 1-1-1
 
SCOUTING THE ROADRUNNERS:
UTSA enters the weekend with a matchup at FAU prior to traveling to Miami on Sunday. earning their first C-USA win of the season, a 2-0 shutout of Charlotte on Sept. 18. With the win, UTSA improved to 6-2-1 overall and 1-1 in conference action.
 
The Roadrunners are ranked No. 7 in the United Soccer Coaches' South Region rankings and ranks in the top-30 in three different categories, including 17th in assists per game (2.78), 11^th in total assists (25), and 26^th in total points (67). The team is second in the Conference USA with 160 shots, 67 points, 21 goals and 25 assists. Kiran Singh leads the team with 22 shots (six on goal) and nine points (two goals and five assists), starting in all eight matches. Preseason Conference Team selection Anna Sutter is tied with Singh for most points, Sutter's consisting of three goals and three assists. Jil Schneider anchors UTSA in goal with 4-2-1 overall mark on the season behind 12 saves.
 
Series History: FIU leads 3-1
 
UP NEXT
FIU travels to Ruston, La., next weekend for a Sunday afternoon tilt at Louisiana Tech on Oct. 2. Kickoff is slated for a 2 p.m. start to be broadcast on CUSA.tv.
 
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.