Nov. 15, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -Junior Scott Geppert scored his seventh goal of the season off an assist from Adrian Chevannes in the seventh minute to give the defending champion Mustangs an early 1-0 lead at the half.

Coming out of the break, FIU first found the net when All-Conference USA first-team Juan Guerra hit the equalizer when he beat the defender and buried the ball in the lower right corner.

In the 75th minute, Christian Caporaletti hit the game-winner by taking a pass from Ricardo Ferrer and took a one-touch shot into the left corner. Steven Cabas added the insurance goal on a breakaway with less than five minutes on the clock.

The Mustangs, ranked fifth nationally in the final NSCAA/adidas poll, fall to 13-4-2 for the season.

With the win, Florida International improved to 4-13-2 and will play the winner of the No. 3 seed Kentucky vs. No. 6 Marshall match. This marks FIU's first conference tournament win and the Golden Panthers were eliminated by SMU in the first round of the 2006 Championship.