MIAMI – The FIU men's soccer program closed out the regular season in a 2-2 draw Friday evening against the Memphis Tigers from Leyva Family Field.
The Panthers (4-5-6, 2-2-3 AAC) recorded goals in each half to secure their fifth draw of the season and conclude regular season play.
With this result, FIU's position in the standings depends on tomorrow night's outcomes: the Panthers could finish fourth with a FAU loss or tie tomorrow night.
FIU struck first in the 26th minute as
Eduardo Mustre fired a left-footed shot to the back of the net, securing his second goal of the season off an assist from
Diego Castillo. Castillo, a senior, currently leads the team with three assists.
Memphis responded swiftly, scoring in the 39th minute and taking the lead in the 40th, heading into halftime with a 2-1 advantage.
In the second half, FIU equalized in the 65th minute as freshman
Prince Ngeleka scored the first goal of his career with a powerful shot to the top-left corner as the Congo native's goal leveled the game.
After 90 minutes of play, FIU led the way with 11 total shots, including three on target. Mustre led the team with three attempts, while Dos Santos Monteiro added two.
Goalkeeper
Beltran Fernandez, making his second consecutive start, posted two saves in the match.
Seven Panthers, including Mustre,
Edgar Aguilar, and
David Houja, played the full 90 minutes
Prior to the match, FIU honored seniors
Edgar Aguilar,
Adrian Barosen,
Diego Castillo,
Juan Pablo Correa,
Bernardo Dos Santos Monteiro,
Julien Gastaldy, and
Thomas Wallis for their contributions to the program.
UP NEXT
FIU will prepare for the AAC Championships, which begins on Friday, Nov. 8 for first-round matchups. The Panthers will find out seeding on Saturday, Nov. 2 as regular season play concludes in the conference.
BAPTIST HEALTH
Presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIUMSoccer), Twitter (@FIUMensSoccer), and Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUMensSoccer) for all the latest Men's Soccer news
