FIU Men’s Soccer Clinch First Win of 2024 Over #10 UCF

MIAMI, FL – After a rough 0-3-1 start to the season which has been ravaged by injuries, Kyle Russell and his team were able to knock off #10 UCF by a final score of 4-3.

It didn’t take the Panthers long to get on the board thanks to a goal scored by Bernardo De Los Santos Monteiro in the 18th minute. The assist came from Diego Castillo.

One of the Panthers’ biggest issues this season has been allowing quick goals. The Knights were able to knock in two goals in a matter of one minute.

First, Clarence Awoudor drew a penalty which he scored on the bottom right of the goal. That was in the 20th minute. In the 21st minute of the match, Emmanuel Bam gave UCF a 2-1 lead going into the half.

Throughout the majority of the game, it was very chippy. That gave FIU plenty of momentum going into the second half of play when Michael Appiah scored the equalizer in the 50th minute.

Two seconds later, Nicolas Villalobos gave the Panther the lead with his first goal of the season.

The Knights would come back to tie the game at three apiece, but it wouldn’t be enough as in the 65th minute, Diego Castillo had a free kick that he knocked in at the top left part of the net, giving the Panthers the lead and eventual victory over the Knights.

FIU was able to attack the Knights’ defense which struggled throughout the back half of the game, leading to 20 overall shots and 12 shots on the goal. UCF was playing with backup goalie Shane Wright.

Russell and his team will hit the road once again for the next three games against Central Arkansas, USF, and SMU before returning home to take on Tulsa.