MIAMI - The FIU men's soccer program finishes off their second three-game road trip of the season, heading to Dallas, Texas for a Wednesday night matchup against the #16 SMU Mustangs.

Wednesday, Sept. 25 at #16 SMU

• Time / Site: 8 p.m. ET at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium
• ACC Network Extra
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• Presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics

FIU returns to non-conference play this week after opening American Athletic Conference play last Friday, Sep. 20 in a 1-0 loss to the South Florida Bulls in Tampa.
 
The Panthers battled all 90 minutes, allowing a goal in just the closing seconds of the first half dropping their first decision of AAC action. Midfielder Diego Castillo led FIU's attack with three shots, including two on target, while senior Bernardo Dos Santos Monteiro added two more attempts.
 
Goalkeeper Nigel Van Haveren continues to be a standout player for the Panthers, registering two saves in the match. His season total now stands at 36 saves, placing him at the top of the AAC and sixth nationally in saves per game (5.67).
 
This year, the Panthers have found their stride offensively, with senior Dos Santos Monteiro leading the charge. Through seven matches, Monteiro has scored two goals and provided one assist, totaling five points. He ranks fourth in the AAC for shots on goal (8) and third for total shots (18).
 
Forward Michael Appiah has been another key contributor, leading the Panthers with three goals—ranking fourth in the AAC. The Ghanaian standout has netted goals in three of the last five matches, including one just 16 seconds into FIU's Sept. 15 match against Central Arkansas.
 
On the defensive side, freshman David Houja leads the team in minutes, having played every minute of FIU's seven matches (630 total). Midfielder Joao Domingues has been a consistent force, logging over 75 minutes per game and adding an assist, while midfielder Nicolas Villalobos has started all seven matches, contributing one goal and one assist across 550 minutes of play.
 
FIU's upcoming match against SMU marks the 22nd meeting between the two teams. While SMU previously competed as a conference opponent in the AAC, this year's matchup will be non-conference, following SMU's transition to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) this summer. The last time these teams faced off, the game ended in a 2-2 draw in Miami on Oct. 8, 2023, with defender Edgar Aguilar and Dos Santos Monteiro both scoring for FIU.
 
ROAD WARRIORS
 The Panthers' trip to Dallas wraps up a stretch of six away games over their last seven matches.

This road-heavy sequence has seen FIU travel across the country, with stops in North Carolina, Washington D.C., Arkansas, and within Florida to DeLand and Tampa.
 
Following Wednesday's clash with SMU, FIU will return home for a two-game homestand before concluding the regular season with three road games in their final five matches.

WE'RE INTERNATIONAL, SO INTERNATIONAL!
FIU's roster embodies its international identity, featuring players from 11 different countries.
 
The USA leads with seven players, followed by Mexico with six, and France with four. Israel and Portugal are also represented, each with two players.
 
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
#16 SMU enters the match with an  5-1-2 record and a three-game winning streak. During this run, the Mustangs secured victories over California and then-#13 Virginia Tech, shutting out the Hokies 2-0.
 
Now competing in their first ACC season, SMU was picked to finish eighth in the ACC Preseason Poll. Last season, the Mustangs won 14 games, captured a AAC regular season conference championship, and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Senior forward Bailey Sparks leads the Mustangs' offense with four goals, three assists, and 11 points—ranking first in all categories for the team. A Hermann Trophy Watch List nominee, Sparks has scored in two of SMU's last three matches. Sophomore Jaylinn Mitchell has also contributed two goals and five points.
 
On defense, midfielder Alex Salvo leads the Mustangs in minutes played (713) across eight games. In goal, junior Martin Dominguez has started the last three matches, allowed just one goal and making 10 saves. Dominguez was a key figure in SMU's 2-0 win over Virginia Tech, where he recorded six saves for his second shutout of the season.
 
UP NEXT
FIU returns home for a two-game homestand starting on Sunday, Sept. 29, with an AAC clash against Tulsa. The match, set to kick off at 7 p.m., will also be Childhood Cancer Awareness Night, and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIUMSoccer), Twitter (@FIUMensSoccer), and Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUMensSoccer) for all the latest Men's Soccer news.