MIAMI, FL – A thrilling showdown Thursday night, FIU women’s soccer fought their way to a 3-2 victory over Stetson at Leyva Family Field. The Panthers overcame a slow start, scoring first in the match and setting the tone for the night. Stetson refused to back down and started to heat up quickly once the first goal hit the back of the net.
Leyva Family Field Heats Up
The match began with Stetson asserting early dominance, controlling possession, and keeping FIU on their toes. Zora Jackson stood out defensively during the first 15-minute stretch, making key plays to disrupt Stetson’s attacking rhythm and clearing the ball. Despite Stetson’s early control, neither team managed to shoot on goal until the 30th minute. Zora created FIU’s first real offensive threat with a strong shot attempt that just barely missed.
The Panthers’ first clean opportunity came shortly after when Hanako Fujii lined up for a penalty kick, but Stetson’s goalkeeper Clare Boesel made a diving save to keep the match scoreless. However, the missed opportunity seemed to spark FIU’s attack. The next 15 minutes of the half, the Panthers took control of the game, outshooting the Hatters 10-2. Finally, Montelene Dymond broke the ice and scored the game’s first goal, giving FIU a 1-0 lead at the half.
Panthers Change the Pace
Montelene Dymond gets her second goal of the match!!
FIU: 2
Stetson: 0 pic.twitter.com/MwtIUwwF4T
— SportswithSeb🏀🏈 (@Sportswithseb) August 28, 2025
Coming out of halftime, Montelene Dymond wasted no time and put the Panthers up 2-0. She netted her second goal of the game and her fourth goal in the past two outings. Stetson responded, with Payton Quinones netting a goal to cut the deficit to 2-1. Stetson continued to push, and eventually, midway through the second half, Ava Kooker scored to make it 2-2 with 27 minutes remaining.
“It feels great to see the ball go in the net early on,” said Dymond. “It’s definitely a good confidence booster for the rest of the season. I think the biggest difference this year is the focus I’ve put into my training and how I’m approaching my mentality on the field. I’ve been putting in a lot of extra work off the pitch, especially on shooting, speed, and how I mentally prepare for games. I feel like I’m more comfortable and sharper in front of the goal this year compared to last. It’s nice to see that paying off already.”
This momentum shift did not stop FIU, as they continued to apply pressure and maintain the pace in the closing minutes. With just under 10 minutes remaining, FIU was rewarded with a second penalty kick opportunity. Freshman Delfina Lombardi converted, scoring her first career goal and the game winner, sealing a 3-2 victory. Stetson pushed hard in the final four minutes, keeping Valery Restrepo busy. She held strong, and the Panthers walked off the field with their second win in a row.
FIU finished the match with a dominant 20-6 edge in total shots, showing significant improvement after a slow start. Both teams performed at high levels Thursday night, with FIU taking on their second win in a row. They will now get ready to face Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday, August 31st, back at Leyva Family Field.
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