Miami, Fla. – FIU women's soccer (4-3) will take on Southeast Missouri State at Leyva Family Field at FIU Soccer Stadium on Vice Night, with the match starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 12. The first 50 fans in attendance will receive a voucher for a free beverage of their choice, and the first 75 fans will receive a free Vice-themed T-shirt.

Thursday, Sep. 12 vs SEMO

• Time / Site: 7 p.m. / Leyva Family Field at FIU Soccer Stadium

• TV

• Live Stats

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

In their last matchup, the Panthers dominated Southeastern Louisiana in their first home match of the season, 6-1. Four Panthers scored in the match, with two players scoring two goals a piece.

The game started close, with neither team able to break the other's defense until Elizabeth Rapp shot a dart into the top left corner of the Lions' goal, breaking the tie and giving FIU the lead in minute '19. It is the first goal of the year for the junior as well as the first goal of her career. The Panthers went into the half up 1-0.

The Lions were able to get off two shots on goal in the first five minutes of the half, both of which were saved by FIU's standout goalkeeper, Valery Restrepo, her only two saves of the match.

Senior Reagan Bridges extended the lead for the Panthers in the 59th minute, scoring on a penalty kick for her first goal of the season. FIU continued to pour it on when senior Arianna Sparrow scored her first goal of the season to make it 3-0 in the 71st minute. Less than a minute later, senior Nikole Solis hit the Panthers' second penalty kick goal of the game to make it 4-0.

Both Sparrow and Solis scored again in the contest, marking the second goal for both seniors on the day. The Lions scored a late goal on a penalty kick to sully the shutout for the Panthers, but FIU would walk away victorious, winning their first home match of the season.

 

SO FAR THIS SEASON

FIU is 4-3 heading into the first home match of the year. Their first two wins of the season came against FGCU, winning against the Eagles for the first time since the 2010 season, and Florida Atlantic, beating the Owls for the first time since the 2011 season. Their third victory came against another Florida team in Jacksonville in a 3-0 result. 

Nikole Solis is second in CUSA in goals so far this season with a total of five in seven games played. Senior Arianna Sparrow and sophomore Montelene Dymond are both second on the team with two goals a piece. Seniors Noemi Paquin and Reagan Bridges, along with juniors Ashly Martinez and Elizabeth Rapp and first year Antonella Solari are all credited with one goal on the season.

Antonella Solari scored the first goal for the Panthers on the season off of an assist by fellow first year Rebecca Baldelomar, an equalizer at the end of the first half of their win against FGCU.
 

THE RETURNERS

FIU welcomes back nine seniors this season, including First Team All-CUSA selection Noemi Paquin, Second Team selections Reagan Bridges, Camille Sahirul and Nikole Solis, and Third Team selection Delinda Sehlin.

Solis was the leading scorer for the Panthers in 2023 with 10 goals, and led CUSA in points with 23, while Paquin was eighth in CUSA in points last season with five goals and five assists.

 

SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS

Southeast Missouri State has started the season with an 0-4 record, currently sitting at ninth in the Ohio Valley Conference. In the OVC preseason poll, the Redhawks were projected to place seventh out of the 10 teams in the conference. 

SEMO has just one goal scored on the season on 23 shots. Their lone score came off the foot of senior midfielder Elizabeth Rater in a 2-1 loss against Murray State in their first match of the season.

This will be the first time the two teams will face off in their respective programs' histories.

 

CUSA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Defensive Player of the Week 

August 27 - Reagan Bridges

Goalkeeper of the Week

August 27 - Valery Restrepo

September 10- Valery Restrepo

 

2024 Home Schedule Promotional Calendar

 

DATE	OPPONENT	THEME	GIVEAWAY
September 7	Southeastern Louisiana	Home Opener & Alumni Day	--
September 12	SEMO	Vice Night	Vice T-Shirt Giveaway & First 50 fans get a free beverage of their choice
October 3	New Mexico State	Senior Night	Tanktop Giveaway
Octobr 6	UTEP	Youth Club Day	Mini Autographed Balls
October 27	Western Kentucky	Staff Appreciation	T-Shirt Giveaway for Staff
October 31	Jacksonville State	Halloween	Vice T-Shirt Giveaway

 

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.