Ruston, LA. – FIU Women's Soccer (8-3, 3-0 CUSA) will make the trip to Ruston, Louisiana to take on LA Tech (2-5-5, 0-2-2 CUSA) on Wednesday, October 9 at 8 ET, with streaming available on ESPN+.

Wednesday, Oct. 9 vs LA Tech

• Time / Site: 8 p.m. / Robert Mack Caruthers Field

• TV

• Live Stats

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

FIU recently celebrated a decisive 3-0 victory over New Mexico State, the 2023 CUSA regular season champions, marking their fifth consecutive win. 

The Panthers have been known for their aggressive starts throughout the season, a trend that continued against NM State when an early red card was issued to an Aggies defender. She was penalized for yanking on an FIU attacker's jersey to prevent a scoring opportunity, leaving New Mexico State to compete with just ten players for the remainder of the match.

The scoring kicked off for FIU just before halftime, when senior Camille Sahirul executed a perfectly timed pass through the Aggies' defense to find Noemi Paquin. Paquin seized the moment, netting her ninth goal of the season at the 44:14 mark, giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead. FIU dominated the first half, firing off nine shots, four of which were on target, while the Aggies recorded neither.

The Panthers quickly extended their lead in the second half. After several near misses that were thwarted by the NM State goalkeeper, Nikole Solis capitalized on a rebound, scoring her sixth goal of the season and pushing the score to 2-0 in the 50th minute.

The final goal came when Camille Sahirul set up Noemi Paquin once more, allowing her to score her second of the match and tenth of the season. This goal marked Paquin's impressive streak of four consecutive games with two or more goals, making her the national leader in goals scored since September 12 with nine.

Defensively, FIU was exceptional, allowing only one shot and no shots on target throughout the match. This victory marked the Panthers' fifth shutout of the season, and they have achieved this feat three times in their last four outings.

SO FAR THIS SEASON

FIU is 8-3 and 3-0 in conference play heading into their matchup with New Mexico State. 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 five victories, beating Southeastern Louisiana 6-0, SEMO 3-0, MTSU 4-2, Liberty 3-0 and New Mexico State 3-0. 

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

Forward Noemi Paquin continues her tear, now with nine goals in her last four games, most in the NCAA since the streak started September 12. The scores are the most in that time frame in Conference USA, and now leaves first in goals scored in the conference this season with 10, and most goals scored in conference play with 7. 

Nikole Solis is not far behind her, with the senior netting six goals on the year after her score against NM State, good for sixth in CUSA. Montelene Dymond is third on the Panthers with three goals, 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.

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 BULLDOGS

At 2-5-5 and 0-2-2 in CUSA, LA Tech has not had the season they hoped so far. Their last winning result came on September 1 against Arkansas State, and since then have gone 0-4-2.

After finishing sixth in the conference last season, LA Tech is now ninth in the conference standings after being selected to finish sixth in the CUSA Preseason Poll. 

Sophomore forward Kyra Taylor was the only player on the Bulldogs to make the CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team, and currently is tied for first on the team with three other players in goals scored with two. LA Tech is second to last in the conference in total goals scored with nine so far on the season. The team has let up 18 goals on the season so far, fifth in CUSA.

The LA Tech goalkeepers have a combined GAA of 1.5 goals allowed per game, seventh in CUSA. Sophomore Cadence Rutledge has a GAA of .857 in seven games played, good for third in CUSA. 

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

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

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.