Bautista Samperi | Staff Writer
The Panthers will face Jacksonville State at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Leyva Family Field at FIU Soccer Stadium as they look to win their final game of the regular season.
This will be their last game before the start of the Conference USA Tournament.
FIU will be looking to get back in the win column after tying for the first time this season, 0-0 against Western Kentucky.
Despite not getting the win, the Panthers have dominated the regular season, especially at home where they have not lost a game all year. This winning streak has helped them reach the best record for the program since 2011, the year that the team reached the NCAA Tournament.
The Panthers have allowed the second-fewest goals of any conference team as well as the second-most shutouts.
Despite the entire team having a great season, there are three players that stand out.
Sophomore goalkeeper Valery Restrepo has only allowed six goals in 16 games played, ranking seventh in saves and in saves per game. Restrepo has also been named the conference’s goalkeeper of the week four times.
A big part of the Panthers allowing fewer goals than all but one of its conference rivals is senior defender Reagan Bridges who has been named CUSA defensive player of the week two times.
Senior Noemi Paquin continues to be a key player for the team. She was named conference player of the week five times consecutively and still leads all players in shots, goals and points.
With a 6-1-1 record within the conference and an 11-4-1 record overall, the Panthers find themselves in first place and with home-field advantage throughout the Conference Tournament.
The 2024 CUSA tournament will be held at Leyva Family Field at FIU Soccer Stadium from Nov. 6-10.
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