FIU Remains Undefeated at Home with Shutout Over North Florida

Miami, FL – FIU Men’s Soccer (6-3-2, Conf. 1-1-1) hosted in-state rival North Florida. FIU remains undefeated at home following a 2-0 shutout win and has extended their winning streak to three games. The Panthers are fifth in the American Conference standings.

The Panthers struck first, with midfielder Sergio Perello finding the back of the net off an assist from Matteo Piccardo. The goal marked Perello’s first of the season, while Piccardo recorded his second assist.

5' | SERGIO WITH HIS FIRST CAREER GOAL!

UNF 0, FIU 1 pic.twitter.com/UB5w1sHHKd

— FIU Men's Soccer (@FIUMensSoccer) October 6, 2026

FIU continued pushing the pace throughout the first half, recording six shots. Despite the Ospreys attempting seven shots of their own, North Florida was unable to find the back of the net, allowing the Panthers to maintain their advantage heading into halftime.

In the second half, the Panthers and Ospreys continued battling before Owen Barnett found the back of the net late in the match, scoring his third goal of the season. The goal came off an assist from Santi Possu, marking his first assist of the season and extending his point streak to six consecutive matches.

OB sealed the match 🫡

His third of the season to secure the 2–0 dub! pic.twitter.com/zy4uFUbsk7

— FIU Men's Soccer (@FIUMensSoccer) October 7, 2026

FIU finished the match with a 2–0 victory, recording 13 shots, with six on goal. The Ospreys attempted 12 shots, with five on goal. Goalkeeper Nigel Van Haveren recorded a season-high five saves and secured his fifth clean sheet of the season. 

What’s Next

Following the victory, the Panthers will host conference opponent UAB at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at Leyva Family Field at FIU Soccer Stadium. This marks the 22nd meeting between the two programs, with FIU holding a 12–8–1 advantage in the all-time series. The teams last met a season ago in Birmingham, where the Panthers suffered a 1–0 loss. FIU will look to avenge that defeat and pick up its second conference win of the season to improve its position in the American Conference standings.

About Post Author

Erick Caldera

My name is Erick Caldera, and I’m a diehard Miami sports fan. I’m a sports writer currently at Florida International University, where I cover FIU athletics. With a passion for storytelling and sports, I focus on capturing the moments and voices behind the game

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