Miami, Fla. – FIU Women's Soccer (11-5, 6-1 CUSA) will matchup against Western Kentucky (3-7-4, 1-2-4 CUSA) for their second to last conquest of the regular season before the Conference USA Championship. A win would clinch the regular season championship for the Panthers, their first time as a member of CUSA. 

Thursday, Oct. 27 vs WKU

• Time / Site: 1 p.m. / Leyva Family Field at FIU Soccer Stadium

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• Presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics 

FIU bounced back from their loss against Kennesaw State with a victory over University of Texas - El Paso, 2-0.

Junior Brealyn Viamille had her best game in her Panthers tenure, scoring both of the goals for FIU in the afternoon. The Illinois native notched her first goal of the game and second of the season at the 3:18 mark when she found the ball in open space and took a shot which was saved by the goalkeeper, but promptly got the rebound and found the back of the net to put the Panthers in the lead, 1-0.

After going into the half up one goal, FIU started the second half the same way they ended the first, a goal from Brealyn Viamille in the 47th minute. Forward Noemi Paquin found Viamille in UTEP's box, assisting her on her second goal of the game. It is the first multi-goal game of Viamille's career, and the third assist for Paquin on the year.

As they have done all season, the Panthers defense held strong throughout the match. The backline, led by seniors Reagan Bridges and Delinda Sehlin, held down by sophomore goalkeeper Valery Restrepo, allowed just seven shots and zero shots on goal in the contest, shutting out their opponent for the seventh time this season and the fourth time in seven conference games. 

It was the sixth Conference USA victory for FIU, marking the most conference wins since the Panthers joined CUSA in 2012. 

A HISTORIC SEASON

• FIU has a chance to become the 2024 CUSA regular season champions for the first time in program history with a win over Western Kentucky

• FIU currently has 11 wins this season, tied for fifth most in program history.

• FIU has allowed just 12 goals this season, which would be the fewest goals allowed in program history if the season ended today.

• With 35 goals on the season, this year's FIU team sits tied for tenth all time in total goals scored in a single campaign. One more goal would place them alone at 10th place.

• Noemi Paquin is tied for seventh all time in most goals scored in a single season, sitting at 13 with two regular season games to play as well as the conference tournament. It is the most goals scored in a season in program history since 2001.

• Noemi Paquin and Nikole Solis both sit at 25 career goals scored, tied for seventh all time in program history.

• Camille Sahirul currently sits at six assists on the season, tenth all time in school history for most assists in a single season.

SO FAR THIS SEASON

FIU is 11-4 and 6-1 in conference play heading into their matchup with Western Kentucky. Their first two wins of the season came against FGCU, winning against the Eagles for the first time since the 2010 season, and Florida Atlantic, beating the Owls for the first time since the 2011 season. Their third victory came against another Florida team in Jacksonville in a 3-0 result. The Panthers cruised through their next victories, beating Southeastern Louisiana 6-0, SEMO 3-0, MTSU 4-2, Liberty 3-0, New Mexico State 3-0, LA Tech 3-0, Sam Houston 3-1 and UTEP 2-0.

Three of their four losing results for the Panthers have come by just one goal, including against two Power-4 schools in Oklahoma and Miami.

Forward Noemi Paquin has been dominant this season, scoring the most goals in Conference USA with 13, and the most goals in conference-play with 10. 

Nikole Solis is not far behind her, with the senior netting eight goals on the year after her scores against LA Tech, good for fifth in CUSA. Montelene Dymond and Brealyn Viamille are third on the Panthers with three goals a piece, while senior Arianna Sparrow and junior Catherine Rapp have netted two so far this season. Senior Reagan Bridges, along with juniors Ashly Martinez, Elizabeth Rapp, and first year Antonella Solari are all credited with one goal on the season.

Senior Camille Sahirul has been a veteran facilitator, tied for the lead in the conference with six assists. The forward is second in CUSA in assists per game with .400.

Antonella Solari scored the first goal for the Panthers on the season off of an assist by fellow first year Rebecca Baldelomar, an equalizer at the end of the first half of their win against FGCU.

THE RETURNERS

FIU welcomes back nine seniors this season, including First Team All-CUSA selection Noemi Paquin, Second Team selections Reagan Bridges, Camille Sahirul and Nikole Solis, and Third Team selection Delinda Sehlin.

Solis was the leading scorer for the Panthers in 2023 with 10 goals, and led CUSA in points with 23, while Paquin was eighth in CUSA in points last season with five goals and five assists.

SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS

Western Kentucky, sitting at 1-2-4 in conference play, is eighth in the Conference USA standings after being projected to finish third in the CUSA Preseason poll, one place ahead of FIU. The Hilltoppers' most recent match was against second-place Liberty, where WKU shutout the Flames and ended the match in a 0-0 tie. 

Western Kentucky is seventh in CUSA in scoring with an average of 1.07 goals scored per game, while allowing 1.64 goals a game, good for seventh in the league. WKU ranks fourth in the conference in total saves with 68, fourth in CUSA, and has allowed 23 goals so far this season, sixth in the conference. However, the Hilltoppers have allowed just five goals during conference play and an average of .71 goals a game, both of which ranking first in the league during conference play.

WKU is led by senior Kayla Meyer who leads the team with five goals and 10 total points on the season. The Hilltoppers have four players tied for the next highest goal scorers this season, all of which have two goals this seasons. Kayla Meyer and sophomore midfielder Georgia Liapis have 15 and 13 shots on goal respectively, good for 11th and 12th in the conference so far this season. 

WKU's primary goalkeeper this season has been junior Maddie Davis, who has been in goal for 13 of the Hilltoppers' 14 games this season. Davis is ninth in the conference in GAA with 1.62 goals allowed a game this season. The Illinois native is second in the conference in total saves this season with 60, but during conference play she is second in GAA with just .714 goals allowed per game and 34 saves, both of which are second in the conference during CUSA games.

The Panthers are searching for their first win all time against Western Kentucky, last season tying the Hilltoppers 1-1 in their only matchup of the season.

CUSA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offensive Player of the Week

September 17 - Noemi Paquin

September 24 - Noemi Paquin

September 24 - Noemi Paquin

October 1 - Noemi Paquin

October 8 - Noemi Paquin

October 14 - Noemi Paquin

Defensive Player of the Week 

August 27 - Reagan Bridges

October 8 - Reagan Bridges

Goalkeeper of the Week

August 27 - Valery Restrepo

September 10- Valery Restrepo

October 1- Valery Restrepo

October 8- Valery Restrepo

SOCIAL MEDIA

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General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.