JONESBORO, Ark. (Sept. 25, 2011) - For the second-straight season, the FIU women's soccer team needed an overtime goal to take down the Arkansas State Red Wolves by a 2-1 margin on Sunday afternoon. Senior April Perry found the back of the net with 53 seconds remaining in the first overtime to help the Panthers (5-5-0) move to 2-0 in the Sun Belt Conference while the Red Wolves fall to 1-1 and 3-5-2 overall.

"We came out and played well and we moved the ball very well," Head Coach Thomas Chestnutt said. "Our intensity was great. We knew it was going to be a tough, physical battle and the girls were up for it."

With the match even in the first overtime and time winding down, freshman Ashleigh Shim was able to feed Perry from midfield as she slipped past the defense, took several dribbles and fired a shot that bounced off the crossbar and into the net for the game-winner.

"It was a great pass from Ashleigh and when I looked up, I saw I had a great chance and fired," Perry said. "It's a great start for us [in the conference]. We're moving forward and taking it one game at time."

FIU opened the scoring in the 39th minute when sophomore Nicole DiPerna netted her first goal of the season, sending a pass from senior Kelly Ann Hutchinson to the bottom-left corner of the net.

Arkansas State battled back in the second half, picking up the equalizer when Jessica Jingblad took control of a loose ball and shot it from the top of the box in the 60th minute. The goal eventually forced the match into overtime where the Panthers came away with the victory to get to 2-0 in the conference for the second-straight season.

"It means a lot for us to go undefeated on the weekend and to build confidence for us," DiPerna said.

FIU maintained the advantage in shots by an 18-7 margin as redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Kaitlyn Savage faced only two shots in the match.

"Defensively, we played very well and ASU's shots were from distance; nothing too close," Chestnutt said. "We finished the weekend 2-0 and that's exactly where we want to be."

The Panthers will return home for the first time in three weeks to face Troy on Friday, Sept. 30 at FIU Soccer Stadium. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

For ticket information, call the FIU Ticket Office at (305) FIU-GAME or log onto www.FIUSports.com. Live stats will be provided at www.FIUSports.com and be sure to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUWomensSoccer) and become a fan on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/FIUWSoccer).

About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 17 different sports, and is a proud member of the Sun Belt Conference and an affiliate member of Conference USA (men's soccer). Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including U.S. Century Bank Arena and Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium.