Alex Rivera/Staff Writer
While FIU was eliminated in the C-USA semifinal, there was still some hope that the team would get to play another day as an at-large bid in the NCAA D1 Men’s Soccer Tournament, but that hope will go unanswered.
The Panthers started the season strong and were able to remain undefeated for 14 games, winning nine games and getting a draw in four games.
At the end of the season, FIU scored 41 goals, had a shot on goal percentage of 48%, received 28 yellow cards and no red cards. From the defense, FIU were able to keep a clean sheet five times. For keeper Daniel Gagliardi, it also meant having 67 saves and only allowing 18 goals.
For scoring, Alessandro Campoy lead the team with six goals scored, while Andrew Booth and Caleb Franke contributed with five goals each.
After their win against Kentucky, the Panthers were never able to really to get another win, and so began their decline from being 11 ranked-FIU. With each passing week, their national ranking continued to decline.
While their 3-0 victory against South Carolina was a turnaround, their loss to Charlotte speaks to the problems FIU has faced nearing the end of their season. The main problem being games that FIU should have won never came into fruition, chances created never amounted to a goal.
Given that, the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Committee has announced who in in the tournament, and who isn’t. Among those in the tournament are three C-USA sides, one of which was Kentucky. James Madison was defeated early in season by FIU but were able to make a great season by winning their conference championship.
For FIU, they will have to wait until next season to return to the pitch, and give another run for a better season.
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