Murfreesboro, Tenn. – FIU Women's Soccer (5-3) travels to Murfreesboro to take on Middle Tennessee (3-5) in the first Conference USA game of the season for the Panthers on Thursday, September 19 at 8:00 pm ET, streaming on ESPN+.

Thursday, Sep. 19 at Middle Tennessee

• Time / Site: 8 p.m. / Dean A. Hayes Track & Soccer Stadium

• TV

• Live Stats

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

The Panthers are coming off two victories in a row heading into conference play, most recently beating Southeast Missouri in a 3-0 winning result at home. Noemi Paquin scored two goals while Catherine Rapp netted her first of the season.

FIU won the possession game for the majority of the match, holding the ball and not letting the Redhawks gain possession and cross midfield. The Panthers had chances, but did not score until the 21:15 mark when junior Catherine Rapp assisted senior Noemi Paquin on her first goal of the game. FIU lived on SEMO's third of the field, getting off nine shots in the first half, but would go into the break 1-0.

It did not take long for FIU to extend their lead to 2-0 out of the half, with Catherine Rapp scoring her first goal of the season in the 51st minute, assisted by Elizabeth Rapp and Camille Sahirul.

The Panthers would add on one more goal before the final buzzer sounded, with Noemi Paquin taking advantage of a Redhawk misplay in their own box, and scoring her second goal of the match at the 67:41 mark.

FIU's defense played lights out, allowing zero corner kicks, zero goals and just one shot on the night. Goalkeeper Valery Restrepo ended the match with one save and produced her third shutout of the season, with the other two coming against Florida Atlantic and Jacksonville.

SO FAR THIS SEASON

FIU is 5-3 heading into conference play. 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. The Panthers cruised through their next two victories, beating Southeastern Louisiana 6-0, and SEMO 3-0.

All three losing results for the Panthers have come by just one goal, including against two Power-4 schools in Oklahoma and Miami.

Nikole Solis is third in CUSA in goals so far this season with a total of five in eight games played, with fellow senior Noemi Paquin ninth on the list with three goals. Senior Arianna Sparrow and sophomore Montelene Dymond are both third on the team with two goals a piece. Senior Reagan Bridges, along with juniors Ashly Martinez, Elizabeth Rapp, Catherine 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 BLUE RAIDERS

Middle Tennessee ended non-conference play with a 3-5 record, good for eighth in CUSA thus far. MTSU was ranked seventh in the Conference USA Preseason Poll, with junior midfielder Manon Lebargy finding herself as the only Blue Raider to make the 2024 CUSA Women's Soccer Preseason Team.

Lebargy currently has five goals in seven games played, good for fourth in the conference thus far. Junior Emma Pettersen and sophomore Risui Araksaki are tied for second on the team with three goals a piece. Graduate student Lauren Spaanstra, a defender out of Franklin, Tennessee, leads CUSA in assists with five in eight games played.

The Blue Raiders' starting goalkeeper, Demi Gronauer, is tenth in CUSA in Goals Allowed per Game. The first year allowed 2.55 goals per game in non-conference play, and has allowed 20 goals in her eight starts.

CUSA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offensive Player of the Week

September 17 - Noemi Paquin

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.