LYNCHBURG, Va. – Women's soccer (4-5-3, 1-2-0 CUSA) will head out for their second road match of conference-play when they take on the 2025 CUSA champions in Liberty in Lynchburg, Virginia on Sunday, October 11 at 1 p.m.

Sunday, October 11 at 1 p.m. 

• Time / Site: 1 p.m. / Osborne Stadium

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

The Panthers are coming off their first conference victory of the season in a 2-1 result over Jacksonville State. After the Gamecocks scored first in the 10th minute, Adria Kitzinger and Mariana Barreto scored for FIU to grant the Panthers the win.

Game Preview

FIU is set to face Liberty for the fifth time in the four seasons since the Flames joined Conference USA in 2023, playing Liberty twice in the 2024 season. FIU has a slim lead in the all-time series, going 2-1-1 against Liberty, with their only loss coming last season. 

Adria Kitzinger scored her first goal of the conference-slate to tie the match against Jacksonville State, giving her two goals on the season. Mariana Barreto scored her first game-winning goal of the season in the second half thanks to a perfectly placed assist from Kiara Clarke, Clarke's first assist of her Panther tenure.

Freshman Yuzu Tanida holds the team-lead in goals scored with three, all of which have come in non-conference play thus far. Her only game-winning goal of her young career came on a corner kick against Jacksonville.

Senior Maya Maxwell was superb in the non-conference as well, leading the team in both points and assists with seven and three, respectively.

With six points against Howard, Maya Maxwell earned her first ever CUSA Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending August 30. Madeline Oliver won CUSA Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending September 13, after the Panther center back led the team to two straight shutout victories and scored the game-winning goal against Stetson.

Goalkeeper Valery Restrepo has played every minute so far this season between the posts, coming into the matchup with a 1.25 GAA and 42 saves, as well as two shutouts in the last two matches of non-conference play. 

Scouting the Flames

Liberty comes into the match as the best teams in the conference with a 10-2-1 record and 3-0 in CUSA-play. The Flames received five votes to be ranked in the national poll this week, the most votes of any of the teams who received votes.

Liberty is led by forward Halle Engle who currently holds the team-lead and is tied for fourth in the conference with six goals scored, as well as 12 points, tied for fifth in CUSA. 

The Flames have nine other goal scorers on the year. Another forward in Izzie Smulik is second on the team with three goals, with three other Flames scoring two goals and five scoring one. Midfielder Audrey Heustis has four assists on the year, tied for first in the conference.

The Flames have seen three goalkeepers handle the load this season, but sixth year Ainsley Leja has taken the majority of the time, playing in 13 matches while starting 10. The goalkeeper is second in the conference in goals against average with 0.65, while also adding on 36 saves.

Match Notes

The Panthers are 2-1-1 all-time against the Flames. The teams tied, 0-0, in their first ever matchup in the 2023 season. 

The programs played twice in 2024, with FIU winning the regular season matchup the last time they played Liberty in Lynchburg, 0-0. The Panthers went on to beat the Flames in the 2024 CUSA Championship in Miami, 1-0.

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.