Women’s Soccer Hosts North Florida in Sunday Night Matchup

MIAMI – Women’s soccer welcomes another in-state opponent in North Florida to Leyva Family Field at FIU Soccer Stadium on Sunday, August 23 at 6 p.m. to be broadcast on ESPN+.

Sunday, August 23 at 6 p.m.

• Time / Site: 6 p.m. / Leyva Family Field at FIU Soccer Stadium

• Presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics

The Panthers (0-2-1) enter the match after a gauntlet first three contests of the 2026 season that saw FIU play their rival, Florida Atlantic, in their opening match, before seeing then-ranked No. 4 Florida State and No. 2 Duke in their next two contests.

The Panthers are searching for their first winning result of the 2026 campaign.

Game Preview

As well as looking for their first victory of the year, FIU is also looking for their first victory over North Florida since the 2015 season. Having played three matches so far, the Panthers are 0-2-1, with their two losses coming against two top-5 teams in the country.

FIU’s match against Florida Atlantic resulted in a contested 1-1 draw, with the Panthers lone goal coming off the head of freshman Yuzu Tanida, the first goal of her career. She was assisted by senior Adria Kitzinger, the first assist as a Panther for the recent transfer. FIU’s goalkeeper Valery Restrepo saved a late penalty kick opportunity from the Owls to keep the match tied three minutes before the final whistle blew. 

The Panthers played close with then-ranked No. 4 Florida State for the majority of the contest, shutting out the 2025 National Champions in the first half before FSU scored two goals in the second half to win, 2-0. In their next contest at No. 2 Duke, the Blue Devils scored four goals in the opening half before being shutout in the following 45 minutes, leading to the Panthers’ second loss of the season.

Scouting the Ospreys

North Florida is coming off a season that saw them go 9-9-4 overall and 5-3-2 in ASUN-play, good for fifth best in the conference. The Atlantic Sun tournament saw UNF win their quarterfinals match against Eastern Kentucky (1-0) and their semifinals match against Bellarmine (2-0), before falling in the ASUN championships to Limpscomb, 3-0.

This season has seen North Florida go 1-1-0 to start the year, dropping their first match of the season against Georgia Southern (2-1), before beating St. Leo, 3-2. The Ospreys have seen four different players net a goal, with Skya Horth leading the team in points so far with three on a goal scored and the team’s only assist of the young season. Marisa Ocasek owns UNF’s lone game-winning goal this year.

North Florida has seen two keepers between the posts so far this season, with Sofia Miliancano starting their first two matches. The graduate has a 2.42 GAA and five saves in 148 minutes played, with her counterpart, Chrissa Avery, playing 31 minutes and notching the win against St. Leo.

Match Notes

The Panthers are 3-5-2 all time against North Florida, with their last winning result coming in 2015. 

North Florida had won four matches in a row against FIU between 2017-21 before drawing with FIU last season to break the Panthers’ losing streak. 

FIU’s best stretch against UNF came in three matches between 2009-15 when the Panthers came out victorious in all three matches, FIU’s longest winning streak against the Ospreys.

FIU’s match against then-ranked No. 4 Florida State marked the first time the Panthers played a defending national champion since 1999, when FIU played the 1998 national champion Florida Gators, losing 8-0.

The Panthers’ back-to-back matches against then-ranked No. 4 Florida State and No. 2 Duke was the first time in program history FIU played top-5 teams in consecutive matches.

Social Media

Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIUWSoccer), Twitter (@FIUWSoccer), and Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUWSoccer) for all the latest Women’s Soccer news.

General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.