CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Never in doubt.
The No. 4 seed FIU men's soccer team punched its ticket to the American Conference Championship Match after a thrilling 11–10 victory in penalty kicks over top-seeded Charlotte on Wednesday night.
With the win, the Panthers advance to their second straight American Conference Championship Match and their third in the last four seasons. FIU will face No. 2 seed Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m. on ESPN+, eyeing their second overall American Conference crown.
After a hard-fought 110 minutes of scoreless play, FIU headed to its first penalty shootout since Nov. 20, 2022, when the Panthers defeated New Hampshire in a 12-round thriller. It set up as the longest American Conference shootout in conference history.
In another marathon finish, both teams traded goals through seven consecutive rounds before goalkeeper
Nigel Van Haveren came up with a crucial save in the 12th round. Senior
Eduardo Mustre then buried the decisive penalty to send FIU to the championship match.
Van Haveren was stellar throughout the night, recording six saves in 110 minutes of action and adding two key stops in the shootout to secure the win.
Offensively, FIU registered 13 total shots, with Joao Domingues,
Johan Helan,
Alfonso Gilleard-Soriano, and
Nicolas Villalobos each recording two apiece.
David Boccuzzo, Mustre, Gilleard-Soriano, and Lucas Travis anchored the lineup, each logging over 110 minutes in a physically demanding semifinal battle.
UP NEXT
With the win, FIU will advance to the championship match, taking on No. 2 Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. in Charlotte, N.C.. It will be streamed live on ESPN+ from Transamerica Field.
BAPTIST HEALTH
Presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics
SOCIAL MEDIA
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