MIAMI – FIU men's soccer returns to Leyva Family Field Friday evening to host the Memphis Tigers in the Panthers' first American Conference home match of the season.

Friday, Sept. 25 vs Memphis (4-1-2, 0-0-1 American)

• Time / Site: 7 p.m. ET at Leyva Family Field at FIU Soccer Stadium
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• Presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics
• Family Weekend

FIU (3-3-1, 0-1 American) enters the contest following a strong non-conference victory this past Saturday, Sept. 19, defeating Drake, 1-0. The victory marked the Panthers' fifth straight win at Leyva Family Field and their third clean sheet of the season.
 
The Panthers resume American Conference play looking to earn their first league victory of the 2026 campaign after falling to No. 19 Missouri State, 2-1, on the road Friday, Sept. 11, in their conference opener.

Game Preview
FIU looks to secure its sixth straight home victory Friday night and consecutive wins while facing a Memphis squad that enters with four victories on the season.
 
The Panthers enter the contest with an RPI ranking of No. 34 and the nation's fourth-ranked strength of schedule. FIU has faced several highly ranked opponents this season, including Creighton and No. 19 Missouri State.
 
FIU's five-match home winning streak is no surprise under head coach Kyle Russell, as it matches the program's longest home winning streak since 2022. That season, the Panthers won the American Conference regular-season and tournament titles while advancing to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. Since 2020, FIU has recorded 36 victories at FIU Soccer Stadium.
 
In the 1-0 victory over Drake, graduate student Santi Possu played the hero, converting a penalty kick for his team-leading fourth goal of the season. The Cali, Colombia, native leads the Panthers in goals (4), points (8), shots on goal (8) and shots (12). He has scored in back-to-back matches and owns two game-winning goals this season while ranking second in the American Conference in goals. Possu has started six matches this season.
 
Behind Possu, four different Panthers have found the back of the net: Owen Barnett, Jad Benjelloun, Pasquale Capriati and Ezequiel Gonzalez. Barnett and Benjelloun have each recorded a goal and an assist this season, with Barnett tallying his first assist of the campaign in FIU's match at Missouri State.
 
On the backline, several Panthers have played key roles, including defender Finn Bauens, who was named American Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Drake. The graduate student has started six matches this season and has been part of three shutouts. He ranks third on the team with 527 minutes played.
 
Michele Ballanti leads the Panthers in minutes, having started all seven matches and recording three full 90-minute performances. Freshman Mateo Stickler has also appeared in all seven matches, logging 544 minutes and recording three shots.
 
In goal, Nigel Van Haveren has recorded 16 saves through seven matches. He made three saves in the shutout victory over Drake, marking his third clean sheet of the season.

Scouting the Tigers
Memphis enters Friday's contest with a 4-1-2 record and a 0-0-1 mark in American Conference play after playing Florida Atlantic to a 2-2 draw at home on Sept. 20. The Tigers have also received votes in the national polls following a strong start to the season that includes a victory over receiving-votes North Carolina.
 
Memphis has scored 17 goals through seven matches, the second-most in the American Conference. Carson Banham leads the Tigers with three goals, while Miller Lashlee has added three goals and three assists for a team-high nine points. Dino Stravos paces the team with four assists, while Eben McIntyre has recorded two goals this season.
 
In goal, Mathias Christensen has started the last two matches and recorded 12 saves, including three against Florida Atlantic.

Matchup History
Friday will mark the 15th all-time meeting between the two programs, with FIU holding a 8-5-1 advantage in the series and remaining unbeaten against the Tigers in the last six matches total.
 
The teams last met on Sept. 12, 2025, in Memphis, with the Panthers earning a 1-0 victory behind a clean sheet from Van Haveren.
 
The most recent meeting in Miami came on Nov. 1, 2024, when the two teams played to a 2-2 draw.

Up Next
FIU hits the road on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. taking on FGCU at Pickering Field. It will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Baptist Health
The 2026 FIU men's soccer season is presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics

Social Media
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIUMSoccer), Twitter (@FIUMensSoccer), and Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUMensSoccer) for all the latest Men's Soccer news
 
General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.