MIAMI – FIU Women's Soccer will be back at Leyva Family Field at FIU Soccer Stadium for the first time since August 31, as they welcome Liberty to Miami for a rematch of the 2024 Conference USA Tournament Championship on October 5 at 1 p.m. 

Sunday, October 5 at 1 p.m.

• Time / Site: 1 p.m. / Leyva Family Field at FIU Soccer Stadium

• TV

• Live Stats

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

The Panthers are coming off three straight road victories to open up conference-play, with victories over Delaware, Kennesaw State and most recently Jacksonville State. FIU leads the conference with a 3-0 CUSA record and a 6-2-3 overall record. This will be just the third time the Flames and Panthers have matched up in their respective histories, with the Panthers leading 2-0, their most recent win coming in the 2024 CUSA Conference Tournament Championship.

So Far in 2025

The Panthers are off to a 6-2-3 start to the 2025 season, and 3-0 in CUSA-play, tallying 16 goals so far. 

Senior Chinatsu Kaio Kaio has played a pivotal role early on, 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.

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 in her last four games. 

Sophomore Delfina Lombardi added her name to the scoresheet with her first career goal, converting a penalty kick for the game-winner against Stetson. Graduate student Jayden 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 FLAMES

Liberty currently holds a 6-3-4 record, including 1-0-2 in Conference USA play, placing third in the conference standings thus far. The Flames had a tough non-conference schedule, playing four ranked teams but still finishing with a 5-3-2 record before CUSA-play, their most notable result being a tie with then-ranked No. 24 Virginia Tech.

Liberty has scored 21 goals so far this season, tying with Delaware for the most in CUSA up to this point. The Flames are fifth in the conference in goals allowed per game with a 1.08 GAA on the season.

Senior Ivy Garner is tied for the league lead in goals scored with seven on the season, and has racked up 16 points in 13 games played, also the most in CUSA. Redshirt junior Halle Engle has been productive on offense as well, scoring four goals so far and is second in the conference in assists with four on the season. A well-rounded team, seven other Flames have scored as well in the 2025 campaign.

Three goalkeepers have played significant minutes this season, with redshirt senior taking the most reps with seven games started and 566 minutes played. She has allowed eight goals and has a GAA of 1.27 and 17 saves. Redshirt sophomore Peyton Huber has the second most minutes in the goalkeeper position, tallying 360 minutes with five games played and three starts. She has a 0.5 GAA with just two goals allowed and seven saves. Combined, the goalkeeping team has a 1.08 GAA, and have allowed 14 goals, sixth fewest in CUSA.

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.