MIAMI – The FIU women's soccer team gets set for the final stretch of the regular season, opening a two-game homestand on Sunday morning against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.
Sunday, Oct. 14 vs. Jacksonville State Gamecocks (7-3-4 2-0-3 CUSA)
Currently, FIU sits third in the CUSA with nine points, sitting seven points behind first-place New Mexico State.
The Panthers (7-3-4 2-0-3) enter Sunday's contest with seven wins, which is already the most wins for the program since the 2015 campaign.
FIU is coming off a hard-fought 1-1 draw last Thursday, Oct. 12 against the New Mexico State Aggies on the road in Las Cruces. The Panthers cashed in early, scoring in the 4
th minute on a goal by sophomore
Kim Schneider, yet the Aggies tied up the contest in the 36
th minute. Both teams battled in the second half, yet ending in a draw, the third consecutive result for FIU.
On the night, goalkeeper
Ithaisa Vinoly tallied five saves, a second match in a row with five or more saves. Vinoly is second among all CUSA keepers in goals-against average (.730) and save percentage (.808) in addition to placing second in the conference with six shutouts. She has started in all 14 matches, logging a total of 42 saves.
The offense has shined for the Panthers, totaling 32 goals through the first 14 games, the most to begin a season in program history and placing for a top 30 offense nationally.
The scoring is led by junior
Nikole Solis, who leads the team in goals (8), which is first in all of Conference USA, while sitting second in the conference in points (19). In addition, her eight goals have placed her top 30 nationally in all of Division I. The Boca Raton, FL native has scored the most goals for a FIU Panther since the 2014 season.
Schneider has blossomed in her sophomore campaign with already 14 points and five goals, second on the team. The Herford, Germany native has totaled three assists, all logged in conference play.
Noemi Paquin has shined with the attacking line, ninth in CUSA in goals (5) and third on the team in points (12). Her 48 shots sit atop in the conference and top 55 in the nation.
The FIU scoring has been a reason for success with six players with two or more goals. Including Solis, Paquin, Schneider, junior
Izelle Barriere (2), and graduate student
Camille Sahirul (3) finding the back of the net.
Panther's backline has been strong allowing just 10 goals in 14 games against their competition with graduate student
Anna Rockett, juniors
Reagan Bridges and
Delinda Sehlin bringing a steady force on defense.
SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS
Newly CUSA member, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks enters the contest 6-7-2 (1-3-2 CUSA), coming off a pair of losses to New Mexico State on Oct. 8, 2-0, and Liberty on Oct. 12, 2-1, this past Thursday night.
The Gamecocks sit sixth in CUSA with a total of five points, tied with the UTEP Miners.
Offensively, Jacksonville State is led by junior Laleh Lonteen, who is tied for first in CUSA in goals (8) and first with 21 points. Lonteen comes off a performance against Liberty, notching a goal with a pair of shots. Sophomore Naroa Domenech is right behind Lonteen is goal scored with seven, while totaling for 16 points.
Overall on the season, the Gamecocks are first in CUSA in goals (33), while averaging 2.20 goals per game, behind FIU's 2.29 average.
In net, goalkeeper Bailey Dean has started in 15 matches, notching a 1.59 GAA, while marking 59 saves and 23 goals allowed.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will wrap up the home slate of the season, next Sunday, Oct. 22 against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.
First kick from FIU Soccer Stadium is set for 11 a.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
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.
