MIAMI (April 25, 2015) – The FIU women's soccer team is sending two of its top 10 goal scorers in program history into the professional ranks of the sport, as Chelsea Leiva and Ashleigh Shim are both taking their careers to the next level, following successful four-year stints with the Panthers.

Leiva's storied career with the Panthers ended with the Royal Palm Beach, Fla., native finishing as one of the five most-potent scorers in FIU history, as her 87-point and 34-goal career are both ranked fourth all-time in their respective categories. The driving force behind FIU's offense each of her four seasons on the pitch, Leiva received offers from several professional clubs in Prague and Australia before deciding on Knattspyrnu Reykjavikur, one of the most successful clubs in the Icelandic Premier League.

 "I am dying to play again," Leiva said. "I keep imagining scoring a goal for the first time as a professional, and I just can't wait to have that feeling again. I miss it so much. I can't believe that playing soccer is going to be my job. It still hasn't hit me."

Leiva's time at FIU resulted in her being named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year in 2010, while she was an All-Sun Belt Conference recipient three times in her career and earned first team laurels in both 2010 and 2012. She went on to be named to the All-South team in those two seasons, as well.

"[Head Coach] Thomas [Chestnutt] has taught me the importance of consistent work ethic and how far it can take you," Leiva said. "He has taught me the importance of leadership and how to have confidence in everything I do. I owe so much to him, Lauren [Singer] and Kyle {Schroeder]. FIU has been such a blessing in my life and has prepared me in so many ways," said Leiva.

Another Panther joining the national ranks is two-time All-Conference USA member Shim, who finished her career as the 10-ranked scorer in FIU history with 17 goals and 47 total points. Shim will be joining the Jamaican Senior Women's National Team upon receiving her second invitation from Coach Lorne Donaldson. The team is currently in preparation for the 2016 Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

 "I am grateful to the whole coaching staff for developing me into the player I am and hope to be," Shim said.
Shim made it back-to-back seasons that the Panthers boasted the SBC Freshman of the Year, as she won the title in 2011. She was named to the 2011 All-SBC second team and was a two-time All-C-USA recipient.

 "I'm hoping to also play professionally overseas after I graduate from FIU," said Shim. "I've been in contact with teams in Germany and Spain already, and I owe a lot of that to the help of my coaches at FIU."

Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUWomensSoccer) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUWSoccer) for all the latest FIU women's soccer news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Google+ (FIU Athletics), Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).
 
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports, and is a proud member of Conference USA. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and the FIU Football Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offers more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $9.8 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member ofConference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.