MIAMI – The FIU men's soccer wraps up their two-game homestand Saturday night with a conference clash facing the UAB Blazers for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Saturday, Oct. 5 vs UAB (4-2-3 (1-1 AAC)

• Time / Site: 7 p.m. ET at Leyva Family Field at FIU Soccer Stadium
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• Presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics

The Panthers (3-4-2, 1-1 AAC) aim to capitalize on their recent momentum after securing their first AAC win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Tulsa last Sunday, September 29. With the match tied 1-1 and seven minutes remaining, David Houja netted the game-winning goal off a cross, while freshman Ron Arie added an insurance goal in the 87th minute to seal the key victory. Midfielder Mathys Lefebvre also contributed with his first goal of the season, opening the scoring in the 6th minute.
 
FIU has now remained unbeaten in five of their last six matches, which includes a ranked win over No. 10 UCF, a road victory at Central Arkansas, and draws at No. 16 Georgetown and SMU.
 
Senior forward Bernardo Dos Santos Monteiro continues to lead the Panthers' offense. He is tied for the team lead with three goals and tops the squad in shots (23), which leads the AAC and shots on goal (11), second in the American Monteiro has been in exceptional form, scoring in three of the last five matches, including two penalty kicks during this stretch. He has logged 727 minutes of play across eight matches, with four consecutive full 90-minute performances.
 
 Another offensive standout is forward Michael Appiah, who has contributed three goals and six points, ranking second on the team.
 
Defensively, freshman David Houja leads the team in minutes played, having completed every minute of FIU's eight matches (810 minutes total). His performance over the past week, scoring the game-winner vs Tulsa and draw at No. 16 SMU earned him AAC Honor Roll for his efforts.
 
Midfielder Joao Domingues has been a consistent force, averaging over 77 minutes per game and contributing one assist. Midfielder Nicolas Villalobos has started all nine matches, recording one goal and one assist over 703 minutes. Senior midfielder Diego Castillo has been a vital piece with two assists (leads team) all coming off free kicks.
 
In goal, Nigel Van Haveren has started all nine matches for FIU, making 42 saves—leading the AAC and ranking 13th in the nation. In the recent contest against Tulsa, Van Haveren added four more saves to his tally.
 
Saturday's match will mark the 21st meeting between FIU and UAB. The Panthers lead the series with 13 wins, including victories in the last nine matchups, dating back to 2016. In their most recent encounter on October 4, 2023, in Birmingham, Ala., Eduardo Mustre scored the lone goal in a 1-0 shutout. In their last meeting in Miami, FIU defeated the Blazers 2-1 on October 22, 2022.

WE'RE INTERNATIONAL, SO INTERNATIONAL!
FIU's roster embodies its international identity, featuring players from 11 different countries.
 
The USA leads with seven players, followed by Mexico with six, and France with four. Israel and Portugal are also represented, each with two players.
 
SCOUTING THE BLAZERS
UAB comes into Saturday's contest with a 4-2-3 overall record and a 1-1 mark in conference play. The Blazers are looking to bounce back from their first AAC loss of the season, a 2-0 defeat to Memphis on September 28.
 
Despite their loss to Memphis, the Blazers notched their first American Athletic Conference (AAC) win against Florida Atlantic, with a 3-2 home victory on September 21. UAB has dramatically improved this season, surpassing last year's winless campaign and achieving their highest win total since 2018.
 
Under the leadership of first-year head coach David Lilly, who spent the previous two seasons at East Tennessee State, the Blazers were projected to finish last in the AAC but have already proven to be competitive.
 
Forward Lucas Rizzo leads UAB in points (7) and shots, and is tied for the team lead in goals (3). Sophomore Tony Kim has also contributed three goals, while Gustavo Barbosa paces the team with three assists.
 
Defender Chris McKenna has been a stalwart on the backline, logging a team-high 810 minutes. In goal, Jonathan Munteanu has been a reliable presence, starting all nine matches and recording 31 saves, with a goals-against average of 1.11, which ranks second in the AAC.
 
UP NEXT
FIU hits the road for a pair of matches, beginning on Saturday, Oct. 12 in a pivotal AAC clash facing the No. 9 Charlotte 49ers for a 7 p.m. kick. It will be streamed live on ESPN+.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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