Ruston, La. – FIU Women's Soccer (9-3, 4-0 CUSA) dominates Louisiana Tech (2-6-5, 0-3-2 CUSA), 3-0, on the back of two goals from Nikole Solis, and one from Noemi Paquin, for the Panthers' sixth win in a row.
FIU dominated possession as they have done for the majority of the match, getting as many chances as they wanted with 11 shots and one shot on goal in the first 20 minutes. The Panthers opened up the scoring at the 20:42 mark with a goal from senior Nikole Solis, who took the rebound from a Camille Sahirul shot and promptly scored her seventh of the year, giving FIU a 1-0 lead and Sahirul her fifth assist of the season.
The Panthers kept the pressure on the Bulldogs, living on their third of the field for all of the first half. FIU extended their lead in the 29th minute after senior Camille Sahirul fed fellow senior Noemi Paquin her conference-leading 11th goal of the season. For Sahirul, it would be her second assist of the game. The connection for Paquin and Sahirul has been special as of late, with the Connecticut native Sahirul producing assists on three goals in two matches to Paquin.
FIU would go into the half up 2-0 on LA Tech, out-shooting the Bulldogs 18-1 in the first half.
Out of the half, it was much of the same, with FIU pressuring the Louisiana Tech defense. FIU found the back of the net for the third and final time in the match at the 54:32 mark when Nikole Solis hit a strike off her left foot into the top left corner of the Bulldogs' goal, her second of the game and eighth of the season. The goal shot the Boca Raton native up into fourth in CUSA in goals scored. FIU now has two players in Paquin and Solis top-5 in the conference in goals scored this season.
The FIU defense continued to play lights out, allowing just eight shots and three shots on goal in the match. Goalkeeper Valery Restrepo saved all three shots on goal she saw, and ended the match with her third recorded shutout in a row. The Panthers have shutout their opponents in three out of their past four games, and have allowed just three goals during their six game win-streak.
FIU is allowing just .67 goals per game this season and a +1.83 scoring margin, both of which are top in the conference.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will stay on the road in the second of a three-game roadtrip, playing against Sam Houston in Huntsville, Texas on Sunday, October 13 at 1:00, with live stats available.
BAPTIST HEALTH
The 2024 FIU men's and women's soccer season is presented by Baptist Health, the official sports medicine provider of FIU Athletics.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIWSoccer), Twitter (@FIUWomensSoccer), and Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUWomensSoccer) for all the latest FIU Women's Soccer news.
General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.
