Boca Raton, Fla. – The FIU women's soccer team will be back in Florida as they travel up to Boca Raton to take on Florida Atlantic in a rivalry showdown.
Thursday, Aug. 22 at Florida Atlantic
FIU is coming off its match against Oklahoma in Norman, where the Sooners handed the Panthers their first loss of the season. FIU opened up 2024 with a win over FGCU, a first for the program since 2010.
The Panthers and the Sooners were tied at 1-all late in the match before Oklahoma netted a goal in the final three minutes to earn a 2-1 win.
FIU battled Oklahoma hard, not allowing the Sooners a score until the 77:50 mark despite being down a player due to a red card that was issued in the 40th minute.
Sophomore Valery Restrepo had a good game in goal, ending the game with three saves and many more plays on the ball that will not be found in the stat sheets. The goalkeeper kept 12 out of Oklahoma's 14 shots from reaching the back of the net and kept the Panthers in the game despite the Sooners' chances.
Oklahoma scored their first goal of the game off a nifty assist into the box that resulted in a score in the bottom center of the goal.
FIU quickly answered, forcing a handball in Oklahoma's box, resulting in a penalty kick. Nikole Solis, last season's leading goal scorer for the Panthers, froze the Sooners' defender and converted the chance to equalize the score at one a piece.
The two teams played tight until the final minutes, when a foul was called on FIU right outside the top of the Panthers' box. Oklahoma found the top right corner of the net off the free kick to take the lead in the 87th minute, and held on for the victory.
SCOUTING THE OWLS
Florida Atlantic has started the season against two Power-4 teams, UCF and Miami. The Owls were downed by the UCF Knights in their first match of the season, 5-1, but bounced back well in their following matchup against the 'Canes with a 1-1 draw.
FAU was voted to place fifth in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Poll after finishing the 2023 season with a 8-7-5 overall record and a 3-3-3 conference record, good for seventh in the conference.
The Owls had three players named to the AAC Preseason Watchlist in goalkeeper Lexi Gonzalez, defender Jodi Smith and midfielder Sofia Voldby. Their goals on the young season have come from junior defender Stella Rubidoux against UCF, and sophomore forward Olivia Bori versus Miami.
FIU has not achieved a winning result against the Owls since the 2013 season and will look to break that streak on Thursday evening.
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 (@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
