FIU’s women’s soccer team
will continue their spring slate with three games set for this weekend. The
first two will be played Saturday afternoon as a part of the Second Annual
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Matches at Viera Regional Park. The Golden Panthers
take on Florida Tech at 3:30 p.m. before squaring off with Rollins at 4 p.m.
FIU will then return home to take on Florida Gulf Coast at 11 a.m. on Sunday
at the FIU practice field.
“We’re definitely looking
to gain more experience out of this weekend. We’re trying out some new
things and we want to end spring on a good note,” said
Victoria Miliucci (Oakville, Ontario).
Saturday’s matches are a
part of an event held by Space Coast United Soccer Club and Brevard County
Parks and Recreation in an effort to bring awareness to ovarian cancer.
Georgia, Florida, Florida State, Central Florida, South Florida, Florida
Tech and Rollins will be joining the Golden Panthers. During each match the
Ovarian Cancer Alliance of the Space Coast will pass the hat for those that
can make a donation.
Being a part of such a
great cause is very important to the Golden Panthers. “It means a lot to me
to be a part of this event so that we can help bring awareness to those that
don’t know much about this disease,” said Miliucci. “I think it’s very
important to support events like this because many people have been affected
by cancer so I’m happy we can help out as much as we can,” added midfielder
Mayara da Fonseca Bordin (Santa Catalina, Brazil).
Each weekend match will be
a good challenge for the Golden Panthers. Florida Tech finished with an
11-7-2 overall mark last season and reached their first NCAA Division II
Tournament. Rollins lost their only match of the season in the third round
of the NCAA Division II Tournament and finished with a 15-1-4 mark, the best
in school history.
The Golden Panthers are a
little more familiar with FGCU as the teams squared off in their first match
of last season with the Eagles coming away with the 3-2 victory. FGCU posted
a 10-4-3 record in their 2008 campaign.
FIU has built upon their
solid finish from last season. The Golden Panthers split a pair of matches
against USF on February 20 before defeating Barry, 3-2, on March 27.
“I think as a team we’re
really coming together. We’ve made some drastic improvements in our fitness
and communication,” said midfielder
Kassandra Sorzano (Miami, Fla.). “We’re picking it up offensively
and this is just the first phase and we’re just beginning to move towards
representing FIU in the Sun Belt Tournament again.”
Both Sorzano and forward
Deana Rossi (New Port Richey, Fla.) have provided an offensive spark
for the Golden Panthers. “We’ve come back in much better shape than we were
in before the fall started,” said Rossi. “I think we’re a lot stronger
offensively.”
The Golden Panthers will
wrap up their spring season next Saturday, Aprill 11, vs. Nova at University
Park. Game time is set for 11 a.m.
