Fabio Lopez & Jonathan Mayer / Staff Writers
The FIU Men’s Soccer team finished their season with a 1-1 record against the Charlotte 49ers and Old Dominion Monarchs on April 14th and 17th.
With no more games left to play, the Panthers hold a 4-4-1 overall record and are 2-3-1 in Conference USA, maintaining their third place position out of eight teams in the conference.
FIU’s loss against Charlotte spearheaded their own standings with 18 points, meaning they are unable to surpass them, ending their hopes of qualifying for the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
Historically, the Panthers have struggled to get results against Charlotte, with a 0-8-2 head-to-head record dating back to 2013. Last season, FIU drew a scoreless tie at home in October 2019 before losing 0-1 away the following month.
Wednesday’s game kicked-off with both teams testing their respective keepers. The opening 24 minutes resulted in a yellow card for FIU defender Adam Hassan in the eighth minute and three shots at goal, with two on target for the Panthers. Charlotte had two shots on target, forcing goalkeeper Grant Makela to make two important saves.
The 49ers broke the deadlock with what will prove to be the deciding goal in the 25th minute.
FIU had three additional shots at goal but failed to capitalize on their momentum. The Panthers entered the dressing room down 0-1.
Charlotte entered the second half with the more energized side. With a barrage of shots in the opening 18 minutes, FIU’s backline were put through the ringer as they blocked virtually every shot that came their way.
It was not until the 68th minute that the Panthers finally created a chance for themselves. However, despite a few isolated opportunities for FIU, the 49ers were firmly in control of the proceedings.
The game ultimately concluded 0-1 in favor of Charlotte as they continued their historical dominance over FIU.
The Panthers recorded a total of 10 shots with five on target compared to the 49ers 15 and four. Midfielder Stephen Afrifa contributed the most to FIU’s attack with four shots and two on goal. Grant made a total of three saves throughout the match.
When matching up against Old Dominion, FIU has a successful record of 7-3, and is currently on a two game winning streak dating back to 2019.
Two minutes into the first half, FIU got right into their offensive zone and scored on a goal by Hassan, which was his first goal of the season. A minute later, the Panthers added another goal on the scoreboard courtesy of midfielder Talla Faye.
The early lead was followed up with great goaltending from Makela. After a yellow card was given to the Monarch in the 17th minute, it set up a free kick for FIU that midfielder Kareem Riley cashed in on, and gave the Panthers a 3-0 lead.
The offense kept up the pressure, as FIU got the ball back in the 25th minute, allowing midfielder Matias Barraza to score. The Panthers ended the first half on a high note by a score of 4-0.
At the start of the second half, Old Dominion came out aggressive on offense, making FIU spend less time out of their zone. However, the large lead and ineffective ball handling made it difficult for the Monarchs to get back in the game.
Until the 70th minute, the Panthers got back on offense taking two shots. In the 87th minute, they tacked on another goal, scored by Afrifa. This sealed the game, and the Panthers finished off the season with a 5-0 shutout victory.
FIU took nine shots with five on goal, with the Monarchs taking six shots with only one on goal. The Panthers fouled Old Dominion 12 times, with FIU being handed only one yellow card.
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