MIAMI (Aug. 22, 2014) – The FIU women's soccer team (0-1-0, 0-0-0) dropped its home opener to the Arizona Wildcats, 2-0, on Friday night. In front of a strong home crowd, senior Chelsea Leiva led the Panthers with three shots, after missing the 2013 campaign due to injury.

"We played a strong team," said Head Coach Thomas Chestnutt. "We were able to generate some opportunities, and we know what to improve on from here."

Arizona took an early 1-0 lead in the fourth minute. With freshman goal keeper Nevana Stojakovic trying to intercept a pass at the top of the box, Arizona's Gabi Stoian used her left foot to find Alexandra Doller, whose shot landed near the far left post. The Panthers were able to limit the Wildcats' chances from there. At the 35-minute mark, a shot within firing range was blocked by senior defender Johanna Volz.

Sophomore Talia McMurtrie gave FIU a good look in the 21^st minute, but her 30-yarder was scooped by the Wildcats' Gabby Kaufman. The Panthers offense began clicking as the half progressed, rattling off four quality shots in the final fifteen minutes of the first.

Freshman Courtney Phillips made her collegiate debut in the 37^th minute and made an immediate impact. Twice the Arlington, Texas native was able to juke the Arizona backline. Arguably FIU's best chance of the half, Phillips and senior Ashleigh Shim facilitated a one-two touch, resulting in Phillips finding Leiva, who missed a goal by inches. She would find a similar result with the clock approaching 90 minutes.

Redshirt junior Sara Stewart sailed a header just over the net in the final three minutes to play before halftime. In all, six Panthers generated shots, as junior Madlen Weinhardt also saw two looks.

FIU looks to get in the win column on Sunday, as the Panthers travel north to Jacksonville to play North Florida. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.

Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUWomensSoccer) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUWSoccer) for all the latest FIU women's soccer news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Google+ (FIU Athletics), Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).
 
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports, and is a proud member of Conference USA. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and the FIU Football Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. Its colleges and schools offer more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU is worlds ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission and enrolls nearly 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. More than 140,000 alumni live and work in South Florida. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.

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