MIAMI, Fla. – Jacksonville State put itself in position to make the 2024 Conference USA Soccer Championship field with a 2-2 draw with FIU in a Halloween regular season finale.

The draw gives the Gamecocks 11 points in conference play with one day left in the regular season. Jax State will need a win by Sam Houston and Liberty to preserve the final spot in the six-team field. If Western Kentucky wins then both clubs are equal with 111 points and it goes to the league tiebreaker rules. Liberty will close out the regular season hosting Kennesaw State with a a chance to earn a share of the regular season title. The Panthers of FIU wrapped up the top seed in next week's tournament and will host the event starting on Wednesday, November 6.

Just like its match last Saturday at home against KSU, Jax State started fast with the first goal of the contest coming two minutes deep into the contest. Junior Nancy Almanza put the Gamecocks on the board with her eight goal od the season after an assist from junior Nanaka Inaba after  free kick opportunity.

The Gamecocks were without the services of junior goalkeeper Poppy Bastock in the match and turned to veteran Bailey Dean in the pivotal CUSA match. Dean was tested throughout the night with FIU posted 20 total shots and six on goal chance. Dean, playing in her home state of Florida fended off nine first half shots and 11 in the final 45 minutes.

FIU rallied in the second half with a goal in the 54th minute and took a lead in the 69th minute. The Panthers' lead was short-lived as Inaba equalized in the 70th minute with her third goal of the season. Her assist on Jax State's opening goal was her fourth of the season.

"I am very proud of the team tonight, the bench was fantastic again tonight. We battled for 90 minutes and we were able to get on the board first and play defense," said assistant coach Nicole Burke.

The Gamecocks and Burke will be scoreboard watching on Friday night as the SHSU-WKU match in Bowling Green, Kentucky will start at 6 p.m. CT, while the Owls and Flames with kick off at the same time in Lynchburg, Virginia.

"We have to watch a few matches and hope for a good result, but I think our girls put us in a great position to make the conference tournament," added Burke.

The league office will announce the 2024 CUSA Soccer Championship bracket following the conclusion of Friday's matches.