Big First Half Carries FIU to Win Over UALR

MIAMI, Fla. - Scarlett Montoya scored two goals to lead FIU (10-5-2, 7-1-1) to 7-0 win over UALR (2-15-0, 1-8-0 SBC) Sunday afternoon at FIU Soccer Stadium. The Panthers put up six goals on 19 shots in the first half before adding their seventh goal in 52^nd minute.

FIU outshot UALR 30-5, including 19-3 in shots on goal. Senior Jenna Brady, sophomore Ariel Galletti and freshman Galya Cohen were responsible for the Trojans' three shots on goal.

The Panthers racked up nine assists on their seven scores, including a team-best two by Madlen Weinhardt.

Junior Natalie Marsh got the start for UALR in goal and allowed five goals and made four saves in 29:39 of work. Freshman Shantel Wittke came on in relief for the final 60:21 and made eight saves while allowing two scores.

Kaitlyn Savage started and played all 90 minutes in goal for FIU. Savage stopped all three UALR shots she faced to pick up the shutout.

The Panthers got started when Montoya scored her first goal just 2:51 into the match. Chelsea Leiva and Caroline Hernandez were credited with assists as FIU quickly built a 1-0 lead.

Weinhardt added a goal, her first of the season, at the 6:49 mark to make it 2-0, and Leiva made it 3-0 less than two minutes later off a feed from teammate Nikki Rios.

Nicole DiPerna tallied FIU's fourth goal of the first half at the 24:33 mark, accepting a pass from Weinhardt and dribbling past a Trojan defender before beating Marsh from close range. Montoya's second goal made it 5-0 in the 30^th minute.

Ashleigh Shim capped the Panthers' big first half by scoring her second goal of the year in the 41^st minute to make it 6-0 before intermission. Montoya and Weinhardt were both credited with assists on Shim's goal.

Shim supplied the assist on FIU's final goal of the match in the 51^st minute. Morgan Morris used a feed from Shim to beat Wittke to make it 7-0 and bring the match to its final score.

UALR will play its final regular season match on Friday, Oct. 26 against Arkansas State at the Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex at 7 p.m. Each of UALR's four seniors will be honored in a pre-game ceremony.