MOUNT OLIVE, NC - Senior back Willie Hunt scored in the 65th
minute to snap a scoreless tie and sophomore goalkeeper Clark
Richeson notched his fourth complete-match shutout of the year as
Francis Marion University downed Mount Olive College 3-0, Friday
night (Oct. 16) in non-conference men's soccer action.
Francis Marion, unbeaten in its last eight matches, improves to
7-4-3. The streak is the longest for the Patriots since a
12-match winning string late in the 2002 season. FMU is
ranked ninth in the latest regional poll, while Mount Olive (8-5-2)
is 10th.
After a scoreless first half, Hunt changed the scoreboard at the
64:52 mark. After a corner kick was knocked around in the
box, Hunt captured the ball and scored from just in front of the
goal for his third tally of 2008 and his 10th career goal.
Mount Olive would record only two more shots the rest of the way
and Francis Marion went on to break the game open in the final
minutes. In the 84th minute, sophomore Juan Rivas got past the
Trojan defense and drew Mount Olive goalkeeper Chris Slaughter off
his line, then crossed to a wide open Adrian Sikorski in the box
for the goal. Three minutes later, freshman Sawyer Frank
intercepted a service at midfield and found FMU junior Kyle Clinton
for the final goal of the match.
Each team recorded 18 shots, while the Patriots held a slight
3-2 edge in corner kicks. Richeson ended the night with a
season-high eight saves, while Slaughter made seven stops.
Mount Olive had the first scoring opportunity of the match after
a Francis Marion foul midway through the first half, but Kirk
Peterson's 22-yard direct kick went just over the crossbar. Chris
McClaugherty intercepted a service deep in Francis Marion's end in
the 23rd minute, but the wet grass affected his footing and
Richeson was able to make the save.
Slaughter kept the match scoreless during a Francis Marion
attack in the 25th minute. Slaughter deflected Rivas' 20-yard shot,
then made a save on Sikorski's follow-up shot. Francis Marion had
another opportunity in the 34th minute when Sikorski got past the
Trojan defense, but his shot was just wide.
Mount Olive nearly broke the deadlock just before halftime on a
10-yard header by Sean Keener, but Richeson made the save with one
second left before intermission.
Francis Marion travels to USC Aiken on Wednesday for a 7 p.m.
Peach Belt Conference match.
Francis Marion Univ. (7-4-3) vs. Mount Olive
(8-5-2)
Date: Oct 17, 2008 in Mount Olive, NC ; Attendance: 101
Weather: upper 50's, windy, rain
Goals by period 1
2 Tot
-------------------------------
Francis Marion Univ. 0 3 - 3
Mount Olive......... 0 0 - 0
SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0. 64:52 FMU Hunt, Willie (unassisted) - corner kick
2-0. 83:48 FMU Sikorski, Adrian (Rivas, Juan) - breakaway,
cross, open net
3-0. 87:21 FMU Clinton, Kyle (Frank, Sawyer) - intercepted
service at midfield
Shots: Francis Marion 18, Mount Olive 18 ; Saves: Francis Marion
8 (Richeson, Clark 8), Mount Olive 7 (Chris Slaughter 7)
