The No. 4 UK men’s soccer team’s undefeated start came to an end on Sunday night. UK lost to the Florida International University Panthers, 3-2, in Miami, Florida.

FIU’s leading scorer, Santiago Patino, headed the ball into the goal to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute. That score is his 10th goal of the season, which now ties him with Old Dominion’s Max Wilschrey as the C-USA’s leading scorer. Joris Ahlinvi increased FIU’s lead to 2-1 after he scored 90 seconds into the second half. Matias Barraza scored in the 70th minute to help seal the deal for FIU.

UK forward Daniel Evans would counter Patino’s score in the 34th minute off of a Kalil Elmedkhar assist. Evans’ goal is his second this season. Soon thereafter, freshman Nicolai Fremstad scored his first-ever goal as a Wildcat thanks to another assist from Elmedkhar. Elmedkhar now leads the team in assists this season with five.

Hoping to tie the game up, Elmedkhar broke through defenders and crossed the ball over to Cole Guindon in the 75th minute. Guindon shot the ball twice and had it blocked each time. Evans and Elmedkhar would force a cross to the goal the 84th, but FIU made the stop.  

UK now falls to 9-1-1 (3-1 C-USA) after its first regular season and conference losses this year. Although FIU entered the game 4-6 overall this year, it was undefeated in C-USA play at 3-0. FIU’s win is only its second home win this season.

The Cats will head back home to take on another conference opponent, the Marshall Thundering Herd. UK will play on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. at The Bell.