MIAMI –  The FIU women's soccer team prepares for their final home match of the regular season as they host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in a pivotal Conference USA matchup this Sunday from FIU Soccer Stadium.

Sunday, Oct. 22  vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (4-9-3 1-3-2 CUSA)

• Time / Site: 11 a.m. ET at FIU Soccer Stadium
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FIU heads into this contest with a total of eight wins, already setting the mark for most wins in a single season since the 2014 campaign. Their CUSA record of 3-0-3 places them third in the conference standings with 12 points, just a point behind second-place Liberty and four points behind first-place New Mexico State. The Panthers are just one of two teams in CUSA that have yet to record a loss in conference play.
 
With just two games left to play, the Panthers still have an opportunity to clinch a regular-season title and rise for higher-seeing in the CUSA tournament.
 
Last Sunday, Oct. 15, FIU secured a 3-2 victory at home over Jacksonville State, officially qualifying the program for a bid to the CUSA Tournament in Ruston, La. It marks the program's first conference tournament berth since 2013 and the first in over a decade. Sophomore Barbara Garcia scored the game-winning goal in the 82^nd minute to seal the win in Miami.
 
The 2023 season has been one of the most successful campaigns as a member of Conference USA, already with 35 goals, which is the most in their 11 seasons in CUSA, while most since 2012. In addition, their scoring offense of 2.33, goals per game, sits atop of CUSA, while placing second in points (95).
 
The Panthers have been a steady force defensively, allowing just 12 goals this season, which is on-pace to become the program record in least amount of goals conceded in a single-season in FIU history.
 
Offensively, FIU is led by the trio of Nikole Solis, Noemi Paquin, and Kim Schneider. All three have combined for 19 goals thus far as their individual goals scored have met career-highs for each this season. Solis leads the team in goals with 8, Paquin sits atop with 48 shots, and Schneider has tallied a mark of six goals with four assists in her sophomore campaign.
 
Schneider has scored goals in back-to-back consecutive games vs New Mexico State and Jacksonville State.
 
The Panthers backline have played major roles this season with Anna Rockett, Delinda Sehlin, Reagan Bridges leading the way, and having logged over 1,100 minutes on the year.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Both FIU and Louisiana Tech have matched up a total of eight times on the pitch, dating back to the 2013 season.
 
The Panthers have recorded a pair of wins and draw in their meetings. Last season, FIU played to a 1-1 in Ruston on Oct. 2 as Schneider scored the only goal for FIU on the night.
 
The last time FIU recorded a victory against the Bulldogs came on Oct. 11, 2015 in a 2-0 clean-sheet victory from Miami.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs enters the contest 4-9-3 (1-3-2 CUSA), coming off a home victory over Middle Tennessee, 2-0, this past Sunday, Oct. 15. It was the Bulldogs first CUSA win of the season after dropping their two previous matches prior.
 
The Bulldogs sit seventh in CUSA with a total of five points, tied with the UTEP Miners and Jacksonville State.
 
Offensively, Louisiana Tech is led by freshman Kyra Taylor and Lauren Egbuloniu, who have combined for 15 goals this season. Taylor leads the team with eight goals, tied for first in CUSA while Egbuloniu sits with seven. Each have recorded 16 points on the season.
 
Overall on the year, the Bulldogs are third in CUSA in goals (31), while averaging 1.94 goals per game. Defensively, Louisiana Tech sits bottom of the conference with goals allowed (40), giving up 2.5 goals per game this season.
 
In net, goalkeeper Emma Duguay has started in the past two CUSA matches, including the 2-0 win over Middle Tennessee. The freshman has racked up four saves and has allowed just a goal in the two-game span. Through the season thus far, Duguay has a 2.22 goals against average, while netting 26 saves.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers will wrap up the regular season, next Friday, Oct. 27 against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
 
First kick from 8 p.m. EST 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.