NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The FIU women's soccer team came up just short in a hard-fought matchup in Nashville on Sunday evening, seeing its two-game win streak snapped after falling 2-1 to an experienced preseason ASUN favorite Lipscomb (3-3) squad at Lipscomb Soccer Complex. The loss moves FIU to 2-3 overall on the season.
"Tonight's experience was an important one, as we continue embarking on our young journey together," said head coach
Jonathan Garbar. "Our Program went toe to toe with not only perennial league and conference champions, but in my opinion, the standard of class, quality and competitiveness. Lipscomb's program has earned every trophy they have, as well as our respect."
"To know we have earned theirs is both humbling and motivating," added Garbar. "We are proud to have fought in the manner we did, demonstrating undeniable progress, against such a worthy opponent. We will continue to work in the dark, developing our identity, building our bonds, and letting our performances do all the talking. Time and purpose…nothing else matters."
C-USA Offensive Player of the Week
Nikole Solis extended her scoring streak to three matches, burying her team-high fifth goal of the season in the 64
th minute in showcasing the well-deserved league honor. Junior midfielder
Dominique Marcelli and sophomore forward
Farah El Tayar notched the assists on the play to aid FIU's lone score of the evening.
Idelys Vazquez recorded a pair of shots on goal in 90 minutes of action, followed by shots from Marcelli and
Chinatsu Kaio to round out the Panther attack in the match.
Lipscomb finished with a 19-5 shot advantage for the match, including a 12-0 first-half differential, though, senior goalkeeper
Ithaisa Vinoly was significant in keeping FIU in the match with five first-half saves to keep a 1-0 deficit by halftime.
Despite the loss, Vinoly (2-3) matched a season-high six saves in goal for the Panthers.
Lipscomb was on the offensive for a significant majority of the opening 45 minutes, striking first in the eighth minute on an impressive shot that narrowly skied over Vinoly from nearly 30 yards out by Shelby Craft for an early 1-0 lead. The Bisons controlled possession from that point on, continuing to test Vinoly in goal with a flurry of shots, though, the Canary Islands native would log save after save on the ensuing five shots on goal through the duration of the frame.
FIU managed to corral a pair of corner opportunities in Lipscomb's half of the pitch, though, came up empty on both tries to eventually see the spread remain at 1-0 heading into the intermission.
The Bisons doubled the lead moments after the break in the 49
th minute, as Lipscomb capitalized on an errant FIU goal kick to play the ball directly back into the box in which Kelli Beiler would bury a close-range strike to push the 2-0 advantage.
The Panthers slowly found their chemistry, making strides up the field to see a shot from
Chinatsu Kaio blocked prior to Marcelli launching a follow-up that sailed high-left of the goal in the 52
nd. Shortly after,
Idelys Vazquez launched a shot on goal on a set piece that would be saved before Solis broke the silence in the 64
th minute for her sixth career goal. Marcelli would play a ball into the box that found
Farah El Tayar, as El Tayar would tap a pass to Solis who snuck a shot past Lipscomb's CJ Graham for the 2-1 margin.
From there, Lipscomb would log another shot on goal that Vinoly would handle, though, chances would be slim for both sides down the stretch heading into the 80
th minute. Vazquez would log FIU's final shot in the 86
th minute that had come up as a Graham save, as Lipscomb ultimately managed to hold on for the victory by the end of regulation.
UP NEXT
FIU returns to action at FIU Soccer Stadium, preparing for a home tilt against Alabama A&M on Wednesday, Sept. 7. Kickoff is slated for a 2 p.m. start to be broadcast on CUSA.tv.
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