By Yosvany Rodriguez/Staff writer
The FIU men’s soccer squad (5-8-0) (1-4-0) dropped their third consecutive game against a Conference-USA opponent with a loss to the Old Dominion Monarchs (6-3-1) (3-1-0). The contest ended in a (1-0) victory for the Monarchs.
The Monarchs who are led by two time C-USA player of the week, senior forward Tim Hopkinson were ranked 13th in the nation in scoring, averaging just a shade over two goals per game (2.10).
For the second straight game FIU has faced an opponent ranked top 20 in the nation in scoring, UAB was first and ODU was 13th, and for the second straight time FIU has been able to hold them to just one goal. Unfortunately, the Panthers high scoring offense has been shutout in both those contest.
The Panthers had ample scoring opportunities, out shooting ODU 16-10. In the first period FIU had nine shot attempts, including a breakaway one-on-one in the 33rd minute for junior defender Sean McFarlane that was stopped by ODU senior goalkeeper Sean Stowe. The game was scoreless going into halftime.
“We have created really good chances.” Said head coach Ken Arena. “ We had at least three or four tonight where it was just us and the goalkeeper, if we get one of these in this game is going to be a lot different. On the other side of things defensively we cannot let down, especially if we’re up a guy. We need to continue to do things in the right way so teams don’t get an easy goal like they did tonight.”
In the second period it seemed that the momentum would shift towards FIU in the 66th minute once ODU was forced to play short one man when sophomore defender Michael Nelson received a red card. FIU was unable to capitalize on the advantage, allowing the 6th best scorer in the league, Hopkinson to net the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute. The goal was the Hopkinson’s ninth of the season.
FIU will look to snap their three game losing streak as they travel to Lexington, Kentucky to face C-USA opponent the Kentucky Wildcats (4-7-1) (1-2-1). The game is set to kick off on Oct. 26, at 7:00 p.m.