MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The No. 5 seed FIU men's soccer team fell in a hard-fought American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championship match, losing 2-1 in overtime to the No. 3 seed Charlotte 49ers on Sunday.
The Panthers struck early, taking a 1-0 lead in the 4th minute when midfielder Mathys Lefebvre scored off a well-placed free kick. The goal marked Lefebvre's second of the season, setting an optimistic tone for FIU.
Charlotte responded with an equalizer just before halftime, leveling the match at 1-1 in the 44th minute. Both teams showcased strong defensive efforts in the second half, keeping the scoreline unchanged and pushing the match into overtime.
In the 99th minute, the 49ers capitalized on an opportunity, scoring the decisive goal with a left-footed strike to secure the championship title.
FIU recorded 12 shots in the match, including two on target, with senior Bernardo Dos Santos Monteiro leading the team with six attempts. Goalkeeper Nigel Van Haveren tallied three saves, bringing his season total to 63—the most by an FIU goalkeeper since 2019.
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