AUBURN, Ala. – FIU will travel to Alabama and take on the sixth-seeded Auburn Tigers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. ET, after defeating Liberty in the Conference USA Championship to become CUSA Champions for the first time in program history.

Friday, November 15 at 7 p.m.

• Time / Site: 7 p.m. / Auburn Soccer Complex

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

The Panthers' historic season continues as they are set to take on their second SEC school of the season when FIU takes on Auburn this Friday.

FIU double-dipped on trophies this season, winning both the CUSA Regular Season Championship and the CUSA Tournament Championship, the first time the program has won either in their history.

The conference championship, played last Sunday, was a hard-fought affair on both sides, with neither team scoring in the first 45 minutes, going into the half a 0-0 tie. Out of the break, the Panthers immediately went to work. FIU's star forward Noemi Paquin found a seam in the tight Liberty defense, getting into their box before being brought down from behind and awarded a penalty kick. 

Head coach Jonathan Garbar called on senior Deborah Bien-Aime to take the kick. The Florida-native whom had never scored a goal in her career up until that point, punished the ball past the Flames' goalkeeper, giving the Panthers the 1-0 lead in the 47th minute. 

Despite some Liberty chances late in the match, FIU held on to win their first-ever CUSA Championship.

It will be the third time in program history FIU has made it to the NCAA Tournament. The first time came in 1993 when FIU beat Duke in the first round on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in regulation. The program saw themselves most recently in the dance in 2011, playing UCF in the first round.

A HISTORIC SEASON

• FIU currently has 13 wins this season, tied for second-most in program history.

• FIU has allowed just 14 goals this season, which would be the fewest goals allowed in program history if the season ended today.

• With 40 goals on the season, this year's FIU team sits tied for seventh all-time in total goals scored in a single campaign. 

• Noemi Paquin is fifth all-time in most goals scored in a single season, sitting at 15 on the year. It is the most goals scored in a season in program history since 2000.

• Noemi Paquin sits at sixth in program history with 27 career goals. Teammate Nikole Solis currently has 25, eighth in FIU history.

• Goalkeeper Valery Restrepo has picked up eight shutouts on the season, the most by an FIU goalkeeper since 2011.

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

SCOUTING THE TIGERS

Auburn ended the regular season 12-3-4 and 4-2-4 in SEC play, suffering a loss to LSU in the first round of the SEC Tournament, 2-1. The Tigers are undefeated at home this season, with an 8-0-3 record.

Auburn has seen itself consistently placed in the NCAA United Coaches Soccer Top-25 Poll, ending the season as the No. 24 team in the country. The highest the Tigers got in the polls was No. 6 in the fourth and fifth weeks of the season.

Auburn is a top team in the SEC in most stat categories, most notably coming in second in the conference in total goals scored with 49, and goals per game with 2.58. They also have the second most points in the SEC at 148, as well as averaging 7.78 points per game, also second in the SEC. The Tigers sit at third in total assists with 50, but second in assists per game at 2.63.

 Auburn is second in the SEC with 12 shutouts on the year, led by starting goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska who has all 11 of the 12 on her record. The graduate student is fourth in the SEC with a 0.67 goals against average.

On the offensive side, Auburn is led by the powerful duo of Olivia Woodson and Anna Haddock. Woodson leads the Tigers in goals with 10 on the season and 23 points, while Haddock is close behind her with five goals and an SEC-leading 12 assists on the season, putting her at 22 points on the season. 

Auburn is a well-rounded team, with eight players who have 10 or more points on the season and six players with four or more goals. 

This is the first time the two programs have played in each other's respective histories.

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.