FIU men’s soccer returns to action on Thursday, August 20, on the road against the Creighton Bluejays. Head coach Kyle Russell enters his seventh season with the program, leading a roster that blends experienced returners with several newcomers. After reaching the American Conference Championship in each of the past two seasons, FIU will look to finally get over the hump and win the conference in 2026.
FIU welcomes back a strong core of players from last season, led by Preseason All-Conference selections Pasquale Capriati, Johan Helan and Alfonso Gilleard-Soriano.
Gilleard-Soriano anchored the Panthers’ defense in 2025, leading the team with 1,498 minutes played. Helan made an immediate impact as a freshman, earning American All-Freshman Team honors after scoring three goals in 17 starts. Capriati also returns after finishing last season with four goals and three assists.
Senior goalie Nigel Van Haveren returns for his third season in Miami. Over the past two years, Van Haveren has appeared in 32 matches, recording 117 saves and eight shutouts. Florian Grollmann also returns to provide depth at the position.
While FIU has plenty of experience returning, the Panthers also added one of the largest recruiting classes in the country, welcoming 19 newcomers. Graduate transfer Santi Possu headlines the group after a standout season at Concord, where he scored 13 goals in 16 matches and earned United Soccer Coaches First Team All-America honors. He is joined by NAIA First Team All-American Miquel Gelabert, German forward Kayhan Sayman, and former Inter Miami CF Academy product Sergio Perello, giving the Panthers additional firepower in attack.
An ALL-AMERICAN is coming to Miami 🌴 Welcome, Santi Possu
• Forward | Concord University
• First Team All-American
• All-Atlantic First Team Honors
• Tallied team-lead of 13 goals and 30 points pic.twitter.com/rZS0ULOrGN— FIU Men's Soccer (@FIUMensSoccer) December 15, 2025
The midfield also received a boost through the transfer portal. Owen Barnett arrives from Hofstra after captaining the Pride during their run to the NCAA Sweet 16, while Jad Benjelloun and Thomas Sellwood return to South Florida. Martin Piedeleu also joins the Panthers after earning MAAC Rookie of the Year honors at Siena, where he totaled seven assists during the Saints’ conference championship season.
Thursday’s matchup against the Creighton Bluejays marks the fifth meeting between the two programs. Their last meeting came last season in Miami and ended in a 1–1 draw. Following Thursday’s match, the Panthers will remain stay in the state of Omaha, this time to take on the Omaha Mavericks on Sunday, August 23 at 8:00 pm.
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