MIAMI – The FIU women's soccer team honors their seniors Sunday night as they wrap up non-conference play against the Florida Atlantic Owls from FIU Soccer Stadium.
Sunday, Sept. 24 vs. Florida Atlantic Owls (4-4-2 1-1 AAC)
The Panthers (7-2-1, 2-0 CUSA) enter Sunday night's contest with seven wins, which is the best start through ten games since the 1993 campaign.
Prior to the match, FIU will recognize seniors Maaike van Klink, Maya Cabrera, Anna Rockett, Paige Davis, and Dominique Marcelli.
FIU is coming off a 3-0 clean sheet victory to the Sam Houston Bearkats this past Thursday on the road in Huntsville, Texas. FIU's scored all three goals in the second half, highlighted by scores from junior Reagan Bridges, Farah El-Tayar, and graduate student Camille Sahirul. In addition, sophomore Kim Schneider notched a pair of key assists in the match, a career-high in a single game for the forward.
The offense has shined for the Panthers, totaling 30 goals through the first ten games, the most to begin a season in program history.
The offense is led by Solis, who leads the team in goals (8) and points (19), while sitting atop in those categories in Conference USA. In addition, her eight goal have placed her top fifteen nationally in all of Division I.
Paquin has shined with the attacking line, sixth in CUSA in goals (5) and tied second on the team in points (12). Her 16 shots on goal sit atop in the conference and 31st in the nation.
Schneider has blossomed in her sophomore campaign with already 12 points, and four goals, including three assists.
Sahirul has found the score sheet in back-to-back games, having scored in the victory over UTEP on Sept. 17 and Thursday at Sam Houston.
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 sophomore Kennedy Floyd (2) finding the back of the net.
FIU's backline has been strong allowing just six goals in ten games against their competition with graduate student Anna Rockett, juniors Reagan Bridges and Delinda Sehlin bringing a steady force on defense.
In the net, Ithaisa Vinoly has started in all ten games, having notched a total of 27 saves with a 0.62 goals against average, second in CUSA. Her five clean-sheets in a FIU uniform on the season is a career-high for the graduate student.
SCOUTING THE OWLS
Florida Atlantic comes into the four wins, including their first victory as an American Athletic Conference member with a win vs Temple, 2-0, this past Thursday. The Owls have secured wins over Louisiana, Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, and Florida Gulf Coast.
The Owls offense is led by sophomore Elia Simonardottir,, who leads FAU in goals (4) and (8) points. Junior Sloane Young paces the team in shots (20) while also notching two goals.
FAU placed third in the AAC Preseason Poll in the East Divison after finishing the 2022 season with 11-8-3 campaign that the saw the Owls play in the CUSa Championship game.
At the net, senior Lexi Gonzalez has started in the last three matches with seven saves and a 0.76 GAA on the season while allowing two goals.
LAST TIME OUT
Both programs have seen each other 19 times, dating back to the 2004 season.
FIU has totaled for five wins in the series, with their last victory coming on Oct. 25, 2013 in a 1-0 win in Boca Raton.
Last season, FAU picked up the 2-0 win from Boca on Oct. 22.
This will be the first time that both teams face each other as a non-conference matchup.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will head to Bowling Green, Kentucky to take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Friday, Sep. 26.
First kick from the WKU Soccer Complex is set for 6 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.
