Two Straight Wins For FIU Men’s Soccer As They Head To AAC Play

When FIU took on Central Arkansas last season in Miami, it ended in a 0-0 draw. This time around, with FIU looking for their second win of the season, they were able to defeat the Bears by a final score of 3-1.

Not even a minute into the game, Multnomah University transfer Michael Appiah knocked in his third goal of the season. It marked back-to-back games with a goal for Appiah. That gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

It didn’t take long for the Bears to tie the game at one apiece as in the eighth minute of action, Sohma Ichikawa was able to knock in a comebacker after an initial header that was missed off a corner kick. That was Ichikawa’s second goal of the season.

In the ninth minute, Barry transfer Nicolas Villalobos drew a foul in the box which paved the way for senior Bernardo Dos Santos Monteiro to make the Panthers’ first penalty kick of the season to put them ahead, 2-1.

Following the penalty kick goal, it was a quiet first half. In the 71st minute of play, freshman Ron Arie scored his first collegiate goal. It gave the Panthers a 3-1 lead.

Although the Bears racked up six shots, only two of them were on goal. Goalkeeper Nigel Van Havern had one save on the day en route to a 3-1 win.

As FIU enters conference play, they have scored a combined seven goals going back to their win against UCF and now today.

FIU will now begin conference play against the South Florida Bulls on Friday, September 20th at 7pm in Tampa. The Bulls are 2-1-4 on the season, with a recent 0-0 draw against UCF.