MIAMI – FIU Women's Soccer will be back at Leyva Family Field at FIU Soccer Stadium for the first of a three-game homestand to end the 2025 regular season, playing Sam Houston on Thursday, October 16 at 6 p.m.

Thursday, October 16 at 6 p.m.

• Time / Site: 6 p.m. / Leyva Family Field at FIU Soccer Stadium

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

The Panthers are 3-2 through five conference matchups, sitting sixth in the CUSA standings after dropping their most recent game to Middle Tennessee on Sunday, Oct. 12. FIU holds the upper hand in its brief series history with Sam Houston, leading 2-1 all-time. The Panthers' most recent win over the Bearkats came last season in a 3-1 victory.

So Far in 2025

The Panthers are off to a 6-4-3 start to the 2025 season, and 3-2 in CUSA-play, tallying 18 goals so far. 

Senior Chinatsu Kaio has played a pivotal role early on in the season, netting equalizers against both North Florida and Florida Atlantic. Her clutch performances earned her CUSA Offensive Player of the Week honors for the week ending August 24. With an assist at Middle Tennessee, Kaio has solidified herself as the Panthers' top assist leader with three on the season.

Junior Montelene Dymond has been in outstanding form, recording back-to-back braces (two goals in a match) against Florida Atlantic and Stetson. With seven goals already, she has surpassed her scoring total from last season.

Sixth year Jayden Boelter has had a hot start to conference-play, tallying three goals in the first three CUSA matchups and four goals on the season.

Senior Brealyn Viamille scored her first goal of the season at Middle Tennessee. Now in her fourth and final year with the Panthers, the forward has notched a goal in every one of her four seasons as a Panther.

Sophomore Delfina Lombardi added her name to the scoresheet with her first career goal, converting a penalty kick for the game-winner against Stetson. Boelter and redshirt-junior Maya Maxwell both earned their first goals of the season in the Panthers' matchup at Jacksonville.

FIU opened the season with a challenging road test at No. 3 Florida State, falling 2-0. Despite the loss, the Panthers held their own against the national powerhouse, limiting the Seminoles, who had previously routed SEC opponent Florida 5-0, to just 13 total shots and five on goal in a strong defensive showing.

History Made in 2024

FIU is coming off a historic 2024 season that saw the team win 13 games, the second most wins in program history. After the Panthers beat Middle Tennessee in the CUSA Tournament semifinals, they went on to beat Liberty in a 1-0 nailbiter at the FIU Soccer Stadium, and secured just their third appearance in the NCAA Tournament (1993, 2011). It was just the first time in program history that the team won not just the CUSA conference tournament, but the CUSA regular season championship as well.

Key Returners

Out of the eight Panthers to grace the 2024 CUSA All-Conference lists, only two are returning to the 305. Junior goalkeeper Valery Restrepo, who led CUSA in shutouts last season with eight and earned a Second Team All-CUSA selection, looks to continue her dominance this season. Graduate defender Zora Jackson, also a Second Team All-CUSA selection last season, will look to make her mark once again as a key contributor for the Panthers in the 2025 campaign.

New Coach, New Team

Mat Dunn was named the fifth head coach in FIU Women's Soccer history last March. Dunn joins FIU after a highly successful tenure at Keiser, where he compiled a 232-35-15 record and won back-to-back national championships in 2019 and 2020, earning NAIA Coach of the Year both years. At Keiser, he also led the program to 10 SUN regular season titles and six tournament championships. Originally from Sheffield, UK, Dunn aims to bring his winning formula to the Panthers.

FIU enters the season with a 28-player roster, featuring a balanced mix of experience and new talent. The Panthers return 14 players from last year's squad and welcome 14 newcomers, including three true freshmen, five Division I transfers, five transfers from NAIA programs, and one international addition. 

SCOUTING THE BEARKATS

Sam Houston currently sits in fourth place in the CUSA standings with a 3-1-1 conference record and a 6-4-2 overall mark. Under first-year head coach Kendall Ayers, the Bearkats are building on a 2024 campaign that saw them finish 5-4 in CUSA play and 8-7-3 overall, with their season ending in the quarterfinals of the CUSA Tournament.

Through 12 matches this season, Sam Houston is averaging 1.42 goals per game, fifth-best in the conference. Defensively, the Bearkats are allowing 1.25 goals per contest, ranking sixth in CUSA.

Senior Tiana Johnson leads the team in goals (4), assists (3), and points (11), with all three marks ranking among the top 15 in the conference. The Bearkats feature a balanced attack, with Indigo Sims and Ellie Morgan each contributing three goals this season. Morgan also leads the team with two game-winning goals. In total, eight different Bearkats have found the back of the net this year, combining for 17 goals in the 2025 campaign.

Graduate goalkeeper Katie Bahn has started all 12 matches, anchoring the Bearkats in goal. She enters the upcoming matchup with a 1.36 goals-against average and 43 saves, the latter ranking sixth in the conference.

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.