MIAMI (Sept. 5, 2022) - Top-ranked FIU men's soccer is back at home this Tuesday, Sept. 6, for a battle with in-state foe UNF.
Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET against the Ospreys at FIU Soccer Stadium.
The match will be streamed on FIUsports.com. Live stats can be followed here.
FIU moved up to No. 13 in the College Soccer News Top 30 national poll, released Monday (Sept. 5), after two impressive road wins against No. 13 UNC (2-1) and No. 25 St. John's (1-0). The Panthers received votes in last week's United Soccer Coaches Top 25 national poll and are expected to move back into the rankings on Tuesday following two signature wins.
The Panthers own a 2-1 record and have played all three contests against Top 25 opponents, with the lone loss coming to No. 14 Akron. FIU is looking for its first home win of the 2022 campaign on Tuesday night.
UNF has posted an 0-2 record this season, losing first to Georgia State (1-0) and later dropping a 2-1 result to UCF. The Ospreys have had a week of rest since their last contest against the Knights on Aug. 29, while the Panthers face a quick turnaround after playing on Sept. 3 in Chapel Hill.
SCOUTING THE OSPREYS
Junior midfielder Angus Taylor has provided the lone goal this season for UNF. Taylor also leads the Ospreys with four total shot attempts.
Sixth-year defender LJ Estes was an All-ASUN Preseason Team selection and has played all 180 minutes for UNF this season.
Between the pipes, sixth-year goalkeeper Padraic Gilley has nabbed six saves to go along with a .667 save percentage.
INSIDE THE SERIES
FIU holds a 4-3-2 record in the all-time series against UNF. The Panthers are looking for their first win against the Ospreys since 2018, after posting two draws and a loss in the last three meetings. FIU out-shot the Ospreys 17-7 last season in Jacksonville, yet settled for a 1-1 tie.
PANTHERS EARNING RESPECT
FIU opened the week of September 5th ranked at No. 13 in College Soccer News' weekly national poll, marking the Panthers' highest national ranking this year after opening the season at No. 18. The United Soccer Coaches weekly national poll is set to be released on Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 6).
After scoring two goals in FIU's 2-1 win over then-ranked No. 13 UNC, Stephen Afrifa was named the College Soccer News National Player of the Week. Afrifa leads FIU with three goals and nine shot attempts.
Afrifa and Kevin Harr were also named the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week and Goalkeeper of the Week, respectively.
Harr grabbed six saves and helped FIU post a clean sheet in FIU's 1-0 win over No. 25 St. John's, before logging three saves and a .750 save percentage in the victory over top-ranked UNC. This season, Harr has logged 11 total saves on 34 shots faced to go along with a .733 save percentage.
Centerback David Garcia earned a spot on the The American's Weekly Honor Roll for his standout defensive performance against UNC and St. John's. Garcia has played all 270 minutes im the FIU backline this season.
UP NEXT
FIU hits the road again this Saturday, Sept. 10, for another Top-25 tilt against a tough New Hampshire squad that began the season ranked No. 7 nationally. First kick is set for 6 p.m. against the Wildcats.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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