The FIU panthers suffer a first round exit in the Conference-USA championship tournament. They lose 4-1 to the University of North Texas.
Freshman Vanessa Plasencia got the start as goalkeeper in her first ever playoff game. The Panthers got down early as North Texas scored in the 21st minute as Lynda Hercules scored the ball near the left post to give her team a lead that they would never relinquish.
In the 37th minute FIU fouled North Texas in the box, setting up a penalty that extended the Mean Green’s lead to 2-0. Kelsey Hodges converted the penalty kick.
FIU would fight back as junior Johanna Voltz would draw a foul in the box to set up for an penalty kick in the 56th minute. Voltz could convert and net her third goal of the season putting her Panthers within one goal.
North Texas would put FIU away, scoring twice in the final 30 minutes of the contest. Pineda scored to give the Mean Green’s a 3-1 lead in the 70th minute. Soon after in the 80th minute Amber Haggerty scored the final goal of the contest making it a 4-1 game. Lindsey Hulstein gave the cross which has Haggerty the score.
It was the first meeting with North Texas university in C-USA, however FIU played North Texas in the 2012 Sun Belt Championship which North Texas won 1-0.
The FIU Panthers finish the season 7-12-0 in their inaugural year at C-USA and for the sixth straight year they have made the post season.
“They were a special group,” said Chestnutt. “We had a lot of success with them and I know they’ll do great things in the future.”
FIU’s senior class graduates with 42 wins, the third most in the history of the program.
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