MIAMI – FIU women's soccer officially kicks off the 2018-19 athletics year on Friday, as the Panthers host Stetson at 7 p.m.
The contest will be streamed live on CUSA.tv to paid subscribers. For live stats, fans should visit FIUSports.com or follow along on Twitter (@FIUWSoccer) for links prior to the start of the match.
For the full game notes for Friday's contest against Stetson, click
here.
STETSON PREVIEW
The Hatters posted a 9-4-3 record last season under head coach Manoj Khettry, while going 4-1-2 in league action. Lindsey Parent is the lead returning scorer, after earning nine points on four goals and one assist last season.
INSIDE THE SERIES
FIU leads the all-time series against Stetson 15-5-2, with the last meeting in 2016 resulting in a 1-1 tie. FIU is 6-2-1 against Stetson at home, having not dropped a contest to the Hatters in Miami since 1996.
AÑO DOS
The FIU women's soccer program enters year two in the Sharolta Nonen era, after she became just the team's third head coach in school history in 2017.
CLOSE CALLS
Despite only winning one match last season, the Panthers played in seven one-goal contests. FIU dropped a heartbreaking three overtime decisions on the season, which ranked as the most overtime defeats in program history.
NEW YEAR, NEW US
There will be many fresh faces in 2018 for FIU women's soccer, with a total of 17 newcomers to the roster this fall. Of that total, 13 are true freshmen and four are transfers.
TOUGH SLATE
FIU will face four teams in 2018 that earned postseason berths last season, with two of those squads (Denver and Florida Gulf Coast) traveling to Miami to take on the Panthers this season.
MRS. WORLDWIDE
FIU sports six international players on this season's roster, which ranks as the second-most from on the team behind eight from the state of Florida.
Kaydeen Jack (Trinidad & Tobago), Kédie Johnson (Trinidad & Tobago),
Izabelle Lundqvist (Sweden),
Jacky Manteas (Germany),
Lamia Rovcanin (Sweden) and
Olivia Sandahl (Swden) are among FIU's international players.
C-USA ALL-FRESHMAN RETURNER
Sophomore Sierra Moss will be a player to watch this season for the Panthers after the defender earned C-USA All-Freshman Team laurels last season. Moss started in all 15 matches for the Panthers in 2017, as she led the FIU backline.
TRANSFER OVERVIEW
Four transfers will join the Panthers in 2018, with the group looking to add experience and talent to the FIU roster right away.
Player Pos. Year. Past Team
Julia Gottlieb GK R-Fr. East Carolina
Amanda Grifol M Jr. Scottsdale CC
Jasmin Hilliard D Jr. SE Missouri State
Kristin Telford D R-Jr. UAB
FAMOUS FAMILY MEMBERS
Freshman defender
Torrie Taylor's father, Travis Taylor, played football collegiately at Florida and spent eight seasons in the NFL. Additionally, her mother Rashidah Senior was Mrs. Florida Galaxy and Mrs. Maryland.
Fellow freshman
Izabelle Lundqvist also has a very athletic family, with her father Stefan Lundqvist playing in the NHL after being selected by the New York Rangers in the 1998 entry draft. Her uncle, Nicklas Lidström, also played in the NHL, playing 20 seasons with the Detroit Redwings.
Newcomer junior
Amanda Grifol's father, Pedro Grifol, played baseball collegiately at Florida State and is now the quality control and catching coach for the MLB's Kansas City Royals.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will travel crosstown to Coral Gables on Sunday as the Panthers take on the Miami Hurricanes at 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra for paid subscribers.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIU_WSoccer Instagram and @FIUWSoccer on Facebook and Twitter. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.
