Erick Caldera | Contributing Writer
After being shut out 0–2 by UAB, the FIU men’s soccer team finishes the regular season at 6–8–2, placing them fourth in the standings and clinching a spot in the American Soccer Championship.
The Panthers will open the tournament against Missouri State on Friday at 7 p.m. at Leyva Family Field at FIU Soccer Stadium.
In their last regular season game, UAB broke through in the 69th minute and added another goal in the 83rd to give FIU a 1-7 record away from home.
This defeat ends FIU’s decade-long unbeaten streak against UAB, whose last win over the Panthers came in 2015.
FIU now shifts its focus to the American Soccer Championship. Last season, the Panthers made a Cinderella run, upsetting No. 4 FAU and No. 1 Memphis to reach the title game, where they ultimately fell to No. 3 Charlotte.
This year, the team hopes to recreate that run, aiming to capture the championship and reach the NCAA Tournament.
After their win against nationally ranked Charlotte in their last home game of the season, head coach Kyle Russell said, “We have what we need to be successful, we just need to execute.” He added, “this season has been difficult, but this is a team that can beat anyone, anytime, anywhere.”
The Panthers will face off against Missouri State in the opening round. The two programs have met only once before, with FIU coming out on top in that matchup. Now, the Panthers look to repeat that success as they begin their postseason run.
After his game-winning goal against Charlotte, captain and graduate student Owen Travis talked about the team’s confidence going into the post season, “We can make a run at the tournament. Who cares what we did in the past, all that matters is how we finish the season, and that’s what we’re looking forward to.”
The Panthers are looking to head back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2023 season, as they look to establish themselves as a power house of the American Athletic Conference, and college soccer.
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