MIAMI – Women's soccer (4-6-3, 1-3-0 CUSA) welcomes Western Kentucky (8-1-5, 2-1-1 CUSA) to Leyva Family Field at FIU Soccer Stadium for the first time since the 2024 season on Sunday, October 18 at 1 p.m.

Sunday, October 18 at 1 p.m. 

• Time / Site: Leyva Family Field at FIU Soccer Stadium

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

FIU is coming off a well-contested 1-0 loss against the current CUSA leaders in Liberty in their last match, and are searching for the second winning result of the conference slate.

Game Preview

FIU is going up against the Hilltoppers for the first time since the Panthers' 2024 CUSA championship season, with that match concluding in a 0-0 draw.

Goalkeeper Valery Restrepo continues to impress, coming into the matchup with a 1.23 GAA and 51 saves on the season. In her last matchup at Liberty, Restrepo tied a career-high with nine saves, matching her total against Miami earlier this season. The Colombia-native is currently fourth in the conference in saves.

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 in Miami.

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

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.

Scouting the Hilltoppers

The Hilltoppers come into the matchup off a 2-2 draw against Delaware. WKU has had an admirable season, going 8-1-5 overall and 2-1-1 in conference, good for third in CUSA.

Sophomore Makenna Egan leads the team with six goals on the year, tied for fourth in CUSA. She also leads WKU with 13 points, fifth in the conference coming into the match. Graduate student April Mcdonald is second on the team with three goals scored.

Two Hilltoppers own the team-lead in assists, with Danielle Lewin and Georgia Liapis both assisting on four goals in the 2026 campaign. Both are tied for first in the conference in assists.

Western Kentucky has seen two Hilltoppers play in goal this season, with redshirt senior Mia Riddick playing and starting in 13 matches. Riddick leads the conference in goals against average with a 0.35 GAA and just four goals allowed on the season. Additionally, the Georgia-native has 40 saves, seventh in CUSA. 

Match Notes

The Panthers are 5-15-5 all-time against the Hilltoppers, and 0-3-2 against WKU since 2020.

FIU is searching for their first winning result over Western Kentucky since the 2012 season, when they beat the Hilltoppers, 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.