A Night of Firepower at Leyva Family Field
On a crisp Sunday evening, the FIU Women's Soccer team turned Leyva Family Field into a showcase of attacking brilliance, dismantling Howard 5‑1 in front of a home crowd eager to see the Panthers' newfound rhythm.
The scoring opened early when Mariana Barreto struck in the fifth minute, catching the opposition off guard and giving FIU an immediate lead. Just nine minutes later, Maya Maxwell capitalized on a precise pass from Barreto, slotting the ball home to double the advantage.
Yuzu Tanida added her second goal of the season in the 20th minute, extending the Panthers' cushion to 3‑0. The momentum carried into the second half, where Maxwell notched her second goal of the match, marking her first career brace and sealing a commanding 4‑0 edge.
Howard managed to pull one back in the 51st minute, but FIU responded swiftly. Leyla Molina, making her mark as a Panther, found the net in the 76th minute to restore the five‑goal margin. Goalkeeper Valery Restrepo, who faced seven shots, made three crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet for much of the game.
Looking Ahead to the UCF Clash
The victory not only highlighted the team's offensive depth but also set a compelling narrative for the upcoming Thursday night showdown against ranked UCF. With the Panthers riding high on confidence, the match promises to be a pivotal test as they aim to climb the conference standings.