FIU Men’s Soccer Goes 1-1-1 in Three Game Set

Bernardo Dos Santos celebrating his second goal of the game against UTRGV. Photo by FIU Athletics

Liam Rooney / Staff Writer

The 13th ranked FIU men’s soccer team played three games from September 7th to the 17th, finishing with a record of a win, a tie, and a loss. 

Heading into this three game stretch the Panthers were ranked 13th in the nation, after the results their ranking will likely drop significantly. FIU’s record now sits at 4-1-1.  

@ UNF,  September 7

FIU defender Kareem Riley. Photo by FIU Athletics

The Panthers traveled to Jacksonville for a matchup with the North Florida Ospreys, unable to find a winning goal, FIU picked up its first draw of the season. 

UNF put the Panthers under pressure from the moment the referee blew the whistle for kick-off, firing off two shots in the first minute of play. Relentless in their pursuit of a goal, the Ospreys finally got their reward in the 12th minute as they broke down the FIU defence and scored the opener. 

The UNF goal was the first goal the FIU defense conceded all season. Playing from a losing position for the first time this year, the nerves of the team were put to the test. Slowly clawing themselves back into the game, the Panthers began to settle in and pressure the Ospreys the remainder of the half. 

After knocking on the door of the UNF goal for a half hour, FIU finally got their breakthrough. Right before the halftime whistle the Panthers were given a penalty kick that defender Kareem Riley slotted into the corner, tying the score at one seconds before halftime. 

The second half of the match was controlled by FIU. Building off their halftime momentum, the Panthers sent seven shots at the Ospreys goal. The defense collected themselves and only allowed UNF three shots in the half, none of them troubling goalkeeper Grant Makala

Despite the dominance in the second half, FIU couldn’t convert their chances and the referee blew for the end of regulation time with the score knotted at 1-1. Controlling the two overtime periods, the Panthers were unable to find the winner and the game ended in their first tie of the season. 

Vs UT Rio Grande Valley, September 12

Bernardo Dos Santos scoring his first goal of the game. Photo by FIU Athletics 

The first ever meeting between the two schools, FIU got back into the win column with a 4-2 victory over the UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros. 

Instantly putting the Vaqueros under pressure, the Panthers sent three shots at the UTRGV goal in the first eight minutes of play. FIU opened the scoring in the 10th minute as defender David Garcia scored his third goal of the season off a corner kick. 

With an early 1-0 lead, the Panthers kept their foot on the gas, continuing their pressure on the Vaquero goal. In the 24th minute forward Bernardo Dos Santos doubled the scoreline with a stunning goal from distance. Heading into halftime FIU held a 2-0 lead. 

The Vaqueros began the second half on the front foot and pressured the FIU backline in the first ten minutes. The Panthers defense cracked in the 56th minute as UTRGV scored and cut the deficit back to one. 

The Panthers responded to the goal with authority, sending three shots in ten minutes at the Vaqueros goal. In the 70th minute, FIU’s relentless pressure was rewarded with a goal as midfielder Stephen Afrifa made the score 3-1 with a clinical finish. Afrifa outran his opponents down the sideline before cutting inside and slotting the ball into the right corner of the net. 

UTRGV scored another goal in the 75th minute, but their attempts at a comeback were put to rest when Dos Santos scored his second goal of the match in the 84th minute. Dos Santos reacted quickly to a missed pass by a Vaquero defender and nestled the ball into the top left corner, sealing a 4-2 Panther victory.

@ Bowling Green Falcons, September 17

The Panthers warming up before a match. Photo by FIU Athletics

Taking a trip to Bowling Green, Ohio, the Panthers were unable to overcome the Falcons, losing their first game of the season by a score of 2-0. 

FIU were on the backfoot the entire first half, constantly being threatened by a Falcon offense that fired nine shots at the Panther goal in the first half. The defense stayed strong despite the shots and the first half ended 0-0. 

In the second half, the Falcons relentless pursuit of a goal finally broke down the FIU defense as in the 59th minute they broke through and opened the scoring. Not satisfied with just the one goal lead, 15 minutes later Bowling Green added a second goal that shattered the Panthers unbeaten record.

Next up on the schedule is a home matchup with the Jacksonville Dolphins on Tuesday, September 21 at 5pm.

About the Author

Richard Gibson
Former Sports Director of PantherNOW

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