Michael Berlfein (FIU Athletics)
Panthers roared back in final minutes yet came up short
MIAMI (Aug. 25, 2022) – Despite a final frenzy from the Panthers in the final seven minutes, No. 18 ranked FIU fell in its first contest of the season on Thursday evening to a stout Akron squad by a score of 5-3 at FIU Soccer Stadium.
After falling behind 2-0 in the opening period, the Panthers got on the board in the 38th minute off the foot of newcomer Fumiya Shiraishi. Paulo Alves, another Panther newcomer, fielded a throw-in from Julian Hodek in the attacking third and played a clever ball forward into the box for Shiraishi, who beat two defenders and finished the play with a low strike to the right post.