FORT MYERS, Fla. – Women's soccer heads to the west coast of Florida when they take on Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday, August 27 at 7 p.m.

Thursday, August 27 at 7 p.m.

Time / Site: 7 p.m. / Pickering Field at FGCU Soccer Complex
Presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics

FIU comes into the match off a draw against another ASUN opponent in North Florida, bringing their record through four contests to 0-2-2. 

After seeing three in-state rivals which included Florida Atlantic and then-ranked No. 4 Florida State, as well as another top-five team in No. 2 Duke, FIU is still searching for their first winning result of the season.

Game Preview
The Panthers are looking to right the ship in the series history against FGCU. FIU is 1-0-1 in their last two contests against the Eagles, but lost 11 contests in a row between 2011-2023, breaking the losing streak in FIU's 2024 championship season.

The Panthers' two draws are the result of tying goals from two newcomers in freshman Yuzu Tanida against Florida Atlantic, and freshman Madeline Oliver against North Florida. Another new Panther in senior Adria Kitzinger owns FIU's only assist of the season on Tanida's goal at FAU.

The Panthers played close with then-ranked No. 4 Florida State for the majority of the contest, shutting out the 2025 National Champions in the first half before FSU scored two goals in the second half to win, 2-0. In their next contest at No. 2 Duke, the Blue Devils scored four goals in the opening half before being shutout in the following 45 minutes, leading to the Panthers' second loss of the season.

Scouting the Eagles
FGCU is coming off a 2025 season that saw the Eagles as one of the best teams in the ASUN conference, going 11-5-2 overall and 8-1-1 in ASUN-play, earning them the No. 1 seed in the Graphite side of the standings. FGCU would go on to fall to Bellarmine, 3-1, in the quarterfinals of the ASUN-tournament.

Florida Gulf Coast (2-1-1) has had a great start to the 2026 season. The Eagles are coming off a week that saw FGCU notch two winning results, including a 3-2 victory over SEC school LSU and 4-0 victory against Southern. Their previous matchups included a 0-0 draw against Houston, and a 2-0 loss against Georgia Southern.

A well-rounded team, FGCU has four goal scorers on the young season, with three Eagles in junior Ryleigh Acosta, sophomore Kaitlin Gabelman and senior Sarah Greiner leading the team in goals (2) and points (4). Sophomore Morgan Keira owns the most assists on the team thus far with two.

FGCU has seen two keepers command the posts this season, with sophomore Madara Bome starting and playing in all four matches. The Latvia native has a 1.10 GAA on the season, as well as 13 saves thus far, securing one shutout against Houston. Another sophomore in Danyelle Dorn has seen 30 minutes in the net, notching a shutout against Southern. 

Match Notes
The Panthers trail FGCU in the all-time series, 2-13-2, looking to build off a successful past two seasons against the Eagles where FIU went 1-0-1.

FGCU won 11 matches against FIU between 2011-2023, with FIU breaking the streak in 2024 with a 2-1 win the last time they were in Fort Myers.

FIU's production so far this season has all come from newcomers, with a pair of freshmen in Yuzu Tanida and Madeline Oliver owning both of the Panthers' goals, and senior Adria Kitzinger having FIU's lone assist of the campaign.

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.

The Panthers' back-to-back matches against then-ranked No. 4 Florida State and No. 2 Duke was the first time in program history FIU played top-5 teams in consecutive matches.
 

Social Media

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