The FIU men’s soccer squad (6-8-1) (2-4-1 in Conference-USA) receives their first tie of the season against the University of South Carolina Gamecocks (6-5-5) (3-1-3).
The Gamecocks came into the game allowing less than one goal per game (0.98), thanks in part to reigning C-USA defensive player of the week, freshman goalkeeper Marco Velez.
The first period of the match would set the tone for the rest of the game. South Carolina out shot FIU nine shots to eight. Only one of the South Carolina shots was on goal and red-shirt sophomore Daniel Mion was able to save it to help FIU maintain a 0-0 tie heading into the second period.
In the second period FIU threw everything but the kitchen sink at South Carolina, attempting 11 shots to South Carolinas one shot. Despite the Panthers multitude of close looks they weren’t able to put any of them away. Marco Velez was able to show why he received C-USA defensive player of the week honors by saving all five of the shots that were on goal for FIU.
90 minutes was not enough to decide this game, FIU would play its second overtime game of the season and for the Gamecocks it would be their eighth overtime game of the season. Both teams would take four shots each in the two overtime periods, but neither team would be able to pull away as the game would end in a 0-0 draw.
“I think it’s clear that our team is getting better in every area,” Said Head Coach Ken Arena. “This is a game that we might of lost in the beginning of the year. Our whole team believes in what we’re doing and we’re ready to make a strong push at the end of the season.”
FIU will look to get back on the win column as they head to Tulsa, Oklahoma to take on C-USA opponent Tulsa on November 3. the game is set to kick-off at 5:00 p.m.
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