MIAMI – FIU men's soccer ventures to Fort Myers this Tuesday evening to face the FGCU Eagles at Pickering Field at 7 p.m. in a midweek matchup.

Tuesday, Sept. 29 at FGCU (4-4-1)

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

The Panthers (3-3-2) are coming off a 2-2 draw against the Memphis Tigers this past Friday, Sept. 25, in their second American Conference matchup of the season, earning their first conference point of the 2026 campaign.
 
After trailing by two goals in the first half, Santi Possu played the hero, tallying a brace in the second half to help FIU rally for the draw and extend its unbeaten streak at home to six straight matches.
 
FIU returns to the road for its final non-conference matchup of the season, traveling to Fort Myers for the first time since 2023.

Game Preview
FIU steps out of conference play for a pivotal week of soccer, beginning with FGCU before returning to American Conference action Friday, Oct. 2, against the South Florida Bulls in Tampa. The Panthers will remain in the state of Florida until Oct. 17, when they travel to face RV Charlotte.
 
Offensively, Santi Possu has been the catalyst, leading the Panthers with six goals through eight matches and 12 total points. He also leads the team with 11 shots on goal. His six goals are tied for the conference lead and rank sixth nationally with 0.86 goals per game. Possu has also scored in three consecutive matches, recording four goals during that stretch, while earning American Conference Honorable Mention recognition.
 
Four other Panthers have found the back of the net this season: Owen Barnett, Jad Benjelloun, Pasquale Capriati and Ezequiel Gonzalez. Barnett and Benjelloun have each recorded a goal and an assist, with Barnett tallying his first assist of the season in FIU's match at Missouri State.
 
Martin Piedeleu delivered a strong performance against Memphis, recording his team-leading second assist of the season on a cross that helped FIU level the contest.
 
On the backline, several Panthers have played key roles, including graduate student defender Finn Bauens, who has started seven matches and been part of three shutouts. He leads the team with 617 minutes played.
 
Freshman Mateo Stickler has also appeared in all eight matches, logging 604 minutes, which ranks second on the team. He has also recorded four shots on goal. Michele Ballanti has been a key contributor on the backline, appearing in all eight matches and totaling 589 minutes.
 
In goal, Nigel Van Haveren has recorded 18 saves through seven matches. He made two saves in FIU's 2-2 draw against Memphis.
Scouting the Eagles
FGCU enters the contest with a 4-4-1 record after earning its first draw of the season in a 2-2 result on the road against Queens in Queens, New York, this past Saturday, Sept. 26.
 
The Eagles have picked up several notable victories this season, including an ACC win over Virginia and a victory over Liberty.
 
Offensively, FGCU has scored 17 goals, with four players recording at least three goals. Aron Martinez leads the Eagles with four goals and three assists, both team highs. Flavio D'Angelo, Emerson LaOrden and Brooks Beeman have each added three goals this season.
 
On the backline, Hugo Munter has started all nine matches and leads the team with 782 minutes played, while Mohammed Baalbaki has appeared in eight matches.
 
In goal, Eduard Garcia has started the last three matches and recorded five saves in his most recent appearance against Queens.

Matchup History
FIU holds a 13-4 record in the all-time series, which dates back 20 years, and has won the last six meetings.
 
The two teams last met on Sept. 18, 2025, in Miami, with FIU earning a 2-0 shutout victory. Pasquale Capriati and Johan Helan provided the goals for the Panthers.
 
FIU makes its first trip to Fort Myers since 2023, when the Panthers earned a 1-0 shutout victory on Oct. 17. FIU has not lost at FGCU since 2013, going unbeaten in its last six road matches against the Eagles.

Up Next
FIU gets back into American Conference play on Friday, Oct. 2 ar 7 p.m. to take on the USF Bulls from Corbett Stadium. 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.