Wednesday November 6, 2002

Florida International topped in first round of Sun Belt Tournament, 2-1 by host South Alabama

he Florida International University women's soccer team's season ended in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament with a 2-1 loss to host South Alabama Wednesday afternoon at the Cage in Mobile, Ala.

The Jaguars got on the board early thanks to a goal from forward Julia Herman in the twelfth minute. The goal was set up by a diving save by McWilliams on an earlier attempt by Jaguar midfielder Rebecca Kahn, leaving the net open for the easy goal.

The Golden Panthers tied the score at the twenty-five minute mark on a goal from senior forward Ifeoma Dieke. The goal was set up by a long pass from senior midfielder Sarah Middlebrook. Dieke, a 2001 All-Sun Belt selection who was playing in her first game of the season, then beat the Jaguar defense off the dribble and knocked it home.

The game remained even until the closing moments of the first half. The Jaguars' intense pressure on the Golden Panthers' defense in the final minute paid off with a goal for Kahn. USA got off several shot attempts and finally caught McWilliams on the ground again for another simple chip shot with only six seconds left in the half.

The goal proved to be the difference in the match, as from that point on, both defenses clamped down, and neither team was able to score a goal in the second half. South Alabama held on to advance to the second round of the tournament where they will face the winner of this evening's North Texas-Middle Tennessee match.

The return of Dieke for FIU was tempered somewhat by the continued absence of senior forward Nicola Bell. Bell, a 2002 All-Sun Belt first-teamer, did not play for the third consecutive game due to lingering effects from a concussion suffered against Arkansas State.