DURHAM, N.C. – Women's soccer embarks on their second road contest of the season when they take on No. 2 Duke in Durham on August 20 at 6 p.m. to be broadcast on ACCNX.

Thursday, August 20 at 6 p.m.

• Time / Site: 6 p.m. / Freeman Field at Koskinen Stadium

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

The Panthers enter the contest with a 0-1-1 record, searching for their first winning result of the young 2026 season. This is the second match in a row FIU will play a top-five team in the country, with the Panthers playing then-ranked No. 4 Florida State in their previous contest. 

This will be the first time since the 2010 season FIU will face-off against the Blue Devils, when the Panthers tied with then-ranked No. 14 Duke, 0-0.

Game Preview

FIU will head into the match already playing in two contests this season, with their first match at rival Florida Atlantic, followed by the Panthers' first home match of the season when they welcomed then-ranked No. 4 Florida State. 

FIU's match against Florida Atlantic resulted in a contested 1-1 draw, with the Panthers lone goal coming off the head of freshman Yuzu Tanida, the first goal of her career. She was assisted by senior Adria Kitzinger, the first assist as a Panther for the recent transfer. FIU's goalkeeper Valery Restrepo saved a late penalty kick opportunity from the Owls to keep the match tied three minutes before the final whistle blew. 

The Panthers played close with No. 4 Florida State for the majority of the contest, shutting out the 2025 National Champions in the first half. The Seminoles scored two goals early in the second half to take a 2-0 lead, but could not find the back of the net for the remainder of the contest. Goalkeeper Valery Restrepo notched six saves on 12 shots seen against the top-five opponent.

Scouting the Blue Devils

No. 2 Duke is coming off a 2025 season that saw the Blue Devils fall in the semifinals of the ACC tournament, as well as the semifinals of the NCAA tournament. Duke started off the 2026 NCAA women's soccer season ranked No. 3 in the country, but moved up to No. 2 after positive opening week results against USC (win, 3-1) and then-ranked No. 9 UCLA (tie, 1-1).

The Blue Devils already have four different goal scorers on four goals scored this season, highlighted by redshirt junior Sam Courtwright with one goal scored to go along with two assists in two matches played in 2026. A pair of Blue Devils in junior Katie Shea Collins and sophomore Avery Oder each have three points on the season with a goal and an assist.

Goalkeeper Molly Vapensky has been in the net for both contests for the Blue Devils, notching a 1.00 GAA with three saves on the young season.

Match Notes

FIU will play Duke for the ninth time in their program's history on Thursday, going 0-4-4 against the Blue Devils all time. 

The Panthers only winning result against Duke is in the first round of the 1993 National Tournament, when the Panthers advanced to the second round on penalty kicks, the only time FIU has ever advanced in the NCAA Tournament.

This is the first time in program history that FIU will play back-to-back matches against teams ranked in the top-five. It is the first time the Panthers will play two ranked teams in the same season since 2015 when FIU took on then-ranked No. 20 UCF and No. 23 Florida. 

FIU's match against then-ranked No. 4 Florida State marked the first time the Panthers played a defending national champion since 1999, when FIU played the 1998 national champion Florida Gators, losing 8-0.

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.